Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Murrieta, CA
🏆 Murrieta leads 12 of 23 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
127,319 ✓ Larger
Murrieta
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,925 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
111,899
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Rent averages $1250/mo less ($900 vs $2,150)
Homes cost $313k less ($254,900 vs $567,700)
Commutes run 19 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.6%)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Murrieta
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Murrieta by $42,493/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
Murrieta, CA
Pros
Households earn $42,493 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Fargo
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 17°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (183.7 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $567,700
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Fargo
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Home Value
$313k less
$254,900 vs $567,700
Fargo
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.6% vs 6.7% unemployment
Murrieta
Median Income
$42,493
$106,925 vs $64,432/yr
Murrieta
Violent Crime
63% lower
183.7 vs 498.2 per 100k
Murrieta
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 87.2°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Murrieta, 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 | $567,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $2,150⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $106,925 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 35.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 47 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 45 ✓ 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 | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 29.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Murrieta Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 ✓ Larger | 111,899 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 67.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Murrieta's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Murrieta leads 12 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 11 and Murrieta wins 12. 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 Murrieta or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $567,700 median home), income ($64,432 vs $106,925), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Murrieta, CA are about 1,406 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.