Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Fullerton, CA
🏆 Fullerton leads 15 of 23 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
127,319
Fullerton
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
142,280 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Homes cost $536k less ($254,900 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $1089/mo less ($900 vs $1,989)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $34,847/yr
Violent crime (498.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3696.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,847 more per year on average
9% less violent crime than Fargo
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 17°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
Higher rents — median is $1,989/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Fargo
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Home Value
$536k less
$254,900 vs $791,000
Fargo
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
3.6% vs 6.9% unemployment
Fullerton
Median Income
$34,847
$99,279 vs $64,432/yr
Fullerton
Violent Crime
9% lower
455.3 vs 498.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Fullerton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 ✓ Lower | $791,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,989⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $99,279 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% | 44.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 89.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Fullerton Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" | 11.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 | 142,280 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Fullerton's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fullerton leads 15 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 8 and Fullerton wins 15. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Fargo to Fullerton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $791,000 median home), income ($64,432 vs $99,279), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Fullerton, CA are about 1,419 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.