Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Simi Valley, CA
🏆 Simi Valley leads 13 of 23 categories
Fargo
North Dakota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
127,319 ✓ Larger
Simi Valley
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Homes cost $449k less ($254,900 vs $704,200)
Rent averages $1502/mo less ($900 vs $2,402)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Simi Valley
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 95°F
Cons
Median income trails Simi Valley by $47,712/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
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $47,712 more per year on average
74% less violent crime than Fargo
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 17°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $704,200
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Fargo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Home Value
$449k less
$254,900 vs $704,200
Fargo
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.6% vs 4.4% unemployment
Simi Valley
Median Income
$47,712
$112,144 vs $64,432/yr
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
74% lower
129.1 vs 498.2 per 100k
Simi Valley
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Simi Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 ✓ Lower | $704,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $2,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $112,144 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 14.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 36.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 91.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Simi Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 ✓ Larger | 126,153 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 72.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Simi Valley's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 13 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 10 and Simi Valley wins 13. 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 Simi Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $704,200 median home), income ($64,432 vs $112,144), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Simi Valley, CA are about 1,434 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.