Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange leads 14 of 23 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
127,319
Orange
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Homes cost $593k less ($254,900 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $1248/mo less ($900 vs $2,148)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.6%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cons
Median income trails Orange by $44,903/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
Orange, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,903 more per year on average
55% less violent crime than Fargo
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 17°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/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
$593k less
$254,900 vs $848,200
Fargo
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.6% vs 4.7% unemployment
Orange
Median Income
$44,903
$109,335 vs $64,432/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
55% lower
226.1 vs 498.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Orange, 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 | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 40.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 | 138,728 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orange leads 14 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 9 and Orange wins 14. 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $848,200 median home), income ($64,432 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Orange, CA are about 1,422 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.