Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Vacaville 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
Vacaville
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
101,631
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Rent averages $1241/mo less ($900 vs $2,141)
Homes cost $306k less ($254,900 vs $560,400)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Vacaville
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.6%)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $42,332/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
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Households earn $42,332 more per year on average
41% less violent crime than Fargo
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 17°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Fargo
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Home Value
$306k less
$254,900 vs $560,400
Fargo
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.4% unemployment
Vacaville
Median Income
$42,332
$106,764 vs $64,432/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
41% lower
293.2 vs 498.2 per 100k
Vacaville
Summer Heat
13.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 91.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" ✓ Drier | 24.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 12 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 11 and Vacaville 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 Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $560,400 median home), income ($64,432 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Vacaville, CA are about 1,399 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.