Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Hesperia, CA
🏆 Fargo leads 12 of 23 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
127,319 ✓ Larger
Hesperia
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,698 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
137⚠ High
Population
99,878
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Rent averages $536/mo less ($900 vs $1,436)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.2 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 27 min shorter each way
Homes cost $83k less ($254,900 vs $337,600)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Hesperia
Cons
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
Median income trails Hesperia by $3,266/yr
Hesperia, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 17°F
Households earn $3,266 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,436/mo
Violent crime (519.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $337,600
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Fargo
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Violent Crime
4% lower
498.2 vs 519.6 per 100k
Fargo
Median Home Value
$83k less
$254,900 vs $337,600
Fargo
Unemployment
6.2 pp lower
3.6% vs 9.8% unemployment
Hesperia
Median Income
$3,266
$67,698 vs $64,432/yr
Hesperia
Summer Heat
15.2°F warmer
July avg high 96.8°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Hesperia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 ✓ Lower | $337,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,436⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $67,698 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 42.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 10.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 78.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Hesperia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 96.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" | 11.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 ✓ Larger | 99,878 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 32.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 63.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 29.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Hesperia's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fargo leads 12 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 12 and Hesperia wins 11. 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 Hesperia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $337,600 median home), income ($64,432 vs $67,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Hesperia, CA are about 1,370 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.