Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Greensboro, NC
🏆 Greensboro leads 13 of 23 categories
Fresno
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Greensboro
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,051
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
297,202
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fresno, CA
Pros
20% less violent crime than Greensboro
Households earn $7,950 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 50°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $321,800
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Greensboro
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Greensboro, NC
Pros
Homes cost $125k less ($197,200 vs $321,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (5.5%)
Rent averages $179/mo less ($1,048 vs $1,227)
More college-educated — 39.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Fresno
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Violent crime (923.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fresno by $7,950/yr
Property crime (3383.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Median Income
$7,950
$63,001 vs $55,051/yr
Fresno
Violent Crime
20% lower
735.5 vs 923.7 per 100k
Fresno
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 88.6°F
Greensboro
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Greensboro
Median Home Value
$125k less
$197,200 vs $321,800
Greensboro
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Greensboro, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High | $197,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 | $1,048 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 ✓ Higher | $55,051 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer | 161⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 39.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 90.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | Guilford County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer | 50.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 7.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 297,202 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 34.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 22.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 13.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Greensboro's 92.7 (US average = 100).
Greensboro is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Greensboro leads 13 of 23 categories. Fresno wins 10 and Greensboro 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 Fresno to Greensboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $197,200 median home), income ($63,001 vs $55,051), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Greensboro, NC are about 2,206 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.