Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Glendale, CA
🏆 Glendale leads 13 of 23 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
127,319
Glendale
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Homes cost $737k less ($254,900 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $1102/mo less ($900 vs $2,002)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (3.6%)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cons
Violent crime (498.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Glendale by $16,787/yr
Property crime (3696.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Glendale, CA
Pros
42% less violent crime than Fargo
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 17°F
Households earn $16,787 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Fargo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
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
$737k less
$254,900 vs $992,000
Fargo
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
3.6% vs 8.1% unemployment
Glendale
Median Income
$16,787
$81,219 vs $64,432/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
42% lower
287.2 vs 498.2 per 100k
Glendale
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 85.8°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Glendale, 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 | $992,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $81,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 16.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% | 43.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Glendale Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 85.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 | 194,512 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 41.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% ✓ Higher | 34.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 18.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Glendale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 13 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 10 and Glendale wins 13. 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 Glendale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $992,000 median home), income ($64,432 vs $81,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Glendale, CA are about 1,418 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.