Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Santa Clara, CA
🏆 Fargo leads 12 of 23 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
127,319
Santa Clara
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
128,058 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Homes cost $1185k less ($254,900 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $1941/mo less ($900 vs $2,841)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clara
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.6%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clara by $100,920/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
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
Households earn $100,920 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Fargo
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 17°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 64.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,440,200
Higher rents — median is $2,841/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Fargo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Home Value
$1185k less
$254,900 vs $1,440,200
Fargo
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.6% vs 4.2% unemployment
Santa Clara
Median Income
$100,920
$165,352 vs $64,432/yr
Santa Clara
Violent Crime
63% lower
182.0 vs 498.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Santa Clara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 ✓ Lower | $1,440,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $2,841⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $165,352 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 21.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 94.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Santa Clara Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F ✓ Warmer | 80.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" | 15.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 | 128,058 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Santa Clara's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fargo leads 12 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 12 and Santa Clara wins 11. 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 Santa Clara or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $1,440,200 median home), income ($64,432 vs $165,352), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Santa Clara, CA are about 1,437 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.