Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks 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
Thousand Oaks
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$125,399 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
27 ✓ Safer
Population
126,532
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Homes cost $646k less ($254,900 vs $900,600)
Rent averages $1583/mo less ($900 vs $2,483)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Thousand Oaks
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.6%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $60,967/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
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
Households earn $60,967 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than Fargo
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 17°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (102.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 49.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $900,600
Higher rents — median is $2,483/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
$646k less
$254,900 vs $900,600
Fargo
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.6% vs 4.8% unemployment
Fargo
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 81.6°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$60,967
$125,399 vs $64,432/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
79% lower
102.2 vs 498.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Thousand Oaks, 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 | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 94.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 ✓ Larger | 126,532 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 13 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 10 and Thousand Oaks 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 Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $900,600 median home), income ($64,432 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 1,443 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.