Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fargo, ND
VS
Vista, 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 ✓ Larger
Vista
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,715 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
98,392
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fargo, ND
Pros
Homes cost $368k less ($254,900 vs $622,900)
Rent averages $1102/mo less ($900 vs $2,002)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Vista
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Vista by $24,283/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
Vista, CA
Pros
36% less violent crime than Fargo
Households earn $24,283 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 17°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $622,900
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Fargo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fargo
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Home Value
$368k less
$254,900 vs $622,900
Fargo
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.6% vs 6.3% unemployment
Vista
Median Income
$24,283
$88,715 vs $64,432/yr
Vista
Violent Crime
36% lower
316.4 vs 498.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fargo, ND | Vista, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $254,900 ✓ Lower | $622,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $900 ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,432 | $88,715 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 11.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 27.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.0% ✓ Higher | 82.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FARGO 1 | Vista Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 17.3°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.7" | 13.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,319 ✓ Larger | 98,392 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.2% | 49.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fargo's cost of living index is 89.4 vs Vista's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fargo leads 12 of 23 categories. Fargo wins 12 and Vista 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 Vista or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,900 vs $622,900 median home), income ($64,432 vs $88,715), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fargo, ND and Vista, CA are about 1,427 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.