Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Temecula, CA
🏆 Temecula 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 ✓ Larger
Temecula
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,881 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
110,114
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Rent averages $1322/mo less ($900 vs $2,222)
Homes cost $349k less ($254,900 vs $604,300)
Commutes run 20 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.6%)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Temecula
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cons
Median income trails Temecula by $47,449/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
Temecula, CA
Pros
Households earn $47,449 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Fargo
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 17°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.5 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,222/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $604,300
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
$349k less
$254,900 vs $604,300
Fargo
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
Temecula
Median Income
$47,449
$111,881 vs $64,432/yr
Temecula
Violent Crime
70% lower
151.5 vs 498.2 per 100k
Temecula
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 87.2°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Temecula, 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 | $604,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $2,222⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $111,881 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 38.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Temecula Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" | 15.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 ✓ Larger | 110,114 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 68.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Temecula's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Temecula leads 12 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 11 and Temecula 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 Temecula or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $604,300 median home), income ($64,432 vs $111,881), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Temecula, CA are about 1,407 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.