Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Huntington Beach, CA
🏆 Huntington Beach 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
Huntington Beach
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,747 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
197,481 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Homes cost $722k less ($254,900 vs $976,800)
Rent averages $1418/mo less ($900 vs $2,318)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntington Beach
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.6%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cons
Median income trails Huntington Beach by $50,315/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
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,315 more per year on average
58% less violent crime than Fargo
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 17°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (207.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $976,800
Higher rents — median is $2,318/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
$722k less
$254,900 vs $976,800
Fargo
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.4% unemployment
Huntington Beach
Median Income
$50,315
$114,747 vs $64,432/yr
Huntington Beach
Violent Crime
58% lower
207.3 vs 498.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Huntington Beach, 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 | $976,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $2,318⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $114,747 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 16.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 93.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Huntington Beach City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 | 197,481 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 43.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% ✓ More | 17.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Huntington Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntington Beach leads 13 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 10 and Huntington Beach 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 Huntington Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $976,800 median home), income ($64,432 vs $114,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Huntington Beach, CA are about 1,432 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.