Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Ontario 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
Ontario
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Rent averages $926/mo less ($900 vs $1,826)
Homes cost $258k less ($254,900 vs $513,000)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.6%)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (498.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Ontario by $13,638/yr
Property crime (3696.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Ontario, CA
Pros
45% less violent crime than Fargo
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 17°F
Households earn $13,638 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Fargo
Higher unemployment (5.8% 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
$258k less
$254,900 vs $513,000
Fargo
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
Ontario
Median Income
$13,638
$78,070 vs $64,432/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
45% lower
272.2 vs 498.2 per 100k
Ontario
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Ontario, 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 | $513,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $78,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 | 176,326 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 32.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Ontario leads 12 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 11 and Ontario 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 Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $513,000 median home), income ($64,432 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Ontario, CA are about 1,399 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.