Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 Riverside 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 ✓ Safer
Population
127,319
Riverside
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Homes cost $231k less ($254,900 vs $485,500)
Rent averages $811/mo less ($900 vs $1,711)
16% less violent crime than Riverside
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.6%)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverside
Cons
Violent crime (498.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Riverside by $19,016/yr
Property crime (3696.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Riverside, CA
Pros
Households earn $19,016 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 17°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
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
16% lower
498.2 vs 589.7 per 100k
Fargo
Median Home Value
$231k less
$254,900 vs $485,500
Fargo
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Riverside
Median Income
$19,016
$83,448 vs $64,432/yr
Riverside
Summer Heat
13.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Riverside, 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 | $485,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $83,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 8.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 32.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Riverside leads 12 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 11 and Riverside 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 Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $485,500 median home), income ($64,432 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Riverside, CA are about 1,395 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.