Fargo ND vs Thousand Oaks CA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Fargo, ND

North Dakota · Population: 129,064

Median HH Income$66,029
Median Home Price$318,584
Unemployment3.9%
Bachelor's+43.2%

Thousand Oaks, CA

California · Population: N/A

Median HH IncomeN/A
Median Home Price$1,053,424
UnemploymentN/A
Bachelor's+N/A

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Fargo

129,064

Thousand Oaks

N/A

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Fargo

N/A

Thousand Oaks

N/A

Median Age

Fargo

32.2

Thousand Oaks

N/A

Foreign Born

Fargo

9.7%

Thousand Oaks

N/A

White

Fargo

80.8%

Thousand Oaks

N/A

Black

Fargo

8.3%

Thousand Oaks

N/A

Asian

Fargo

3.9%

Thousand Oaks

N/A

Hispanic

Fargo

3.7%

Thousand Oaks

N/A

Spanish at Home

Fargo

N/A

Thousand Oaks

N/A

Metric	Fargo, ND	Thousand Oaks, CA	Better
Population	129,064	N/A	-
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	32.2	N/A	-
Foreign Born	9.7%	N/A	-
White	80.8%	N/A	-
Black	8.3%	N/A	-
Asian	3.9%	N/A	-
Hispanic	3.7%	N/A	-
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Fargo

$66,029

Thousand Oaks

N/A

Per Capita Income

Fargo

$42,212

Thousand Oaks

N/A

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Fargo

$71,089

Thousand Oaks

$77,230

Thousand Oaks +

Unemployment Rate

Fargo

3.9%

Thousand Oaks

N/A

Poverty Rate

Fargo

12.8%

Thousand Oaks

N/A

Bachelor's Degree+

Fargo

43.2%

Thousand Oaks

N/A

Metric	Fargo, ND	Thousand Oaks, CA	Better
Median HH Income	$66,029	N/A	-
Per Capita Income	$42,212	N/A	-
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$71,089	$77,230	Thousand Oaks +
Unemployment Rate	3.9%	N/A	-
Poverty Rate	12.8%	N/A	-
Bachelor's Degree+	43.2%	N/A	-

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Fargo

$318,584

Fargo +

Thousand Oaks

$1,053,424

Homeownership Rate

Fargo

44.1%

Thousand Oaks

N/A

Metric	Fargo, ND	Thousand Oaks, CA	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$318,584	$1,053,424	Fargo +
Homeownership Rate	44.1%	N/A	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Fargo

288

Fargo +

Thousand Oaks

503

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Fargo

2037

Fargo +

Thousand Oaks

2388

Metric	Fargo, ND	Thousand Oaks, CA	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	288	503	Fargo +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	2037	2388	Fargo +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Fargo

34.3%

Thousand Oaks

23.0%

Thousand Oaks +

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Fargo

8.1%

Fargo +

Thousand Oaks

10.1%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Fargo

14.5%

Fargo +

Thousand Oaks

15.0%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Fargo

6.8%

Thousand Oaks

5.8%

Thousand Oaks +

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Fargo

21.5%

Thousand Oaks

15.7%

Thousand Oaks +

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Fargo

11.8%

Thousand Oaks

8.6%

Thousand Oaks +

Metric	Fargo, ND	Thousand Oaks, CA	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	34.3%	23.0%	Thousand Oaks +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	8.1%	10.1%	Fargo +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	14.5%	15.0%	Fargo +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	6.8%	5.8%	Thousand Oaks +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	21.5%	15.7%	Thousand Oaks +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	11.8%	8.6%	Thousand Oaks +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Fargo

42.4°F

Fargo +

Thousand Oaks

62.7°F

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Fargo

22.6 in

Thousand Oaks

16.5 in

Thousand Oaks +

Metric	Fargo, ND	Thousand Oaks, CA	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	42.4°F	62.7°F	Fargo +
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	22.6 in	16.5 in	Thousand Oaks +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Fargo

8.6 µg/m³

Thousand Oaks

7.9 µg/m³

Thousand Oaks +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Fargo

75.0%

Thousand Oaks

75.0%

Tie

Metric	Fargo, ND	Thousand Oaks, CA	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	8.6 µg/m³	7.9 µg/m³	Thousand Oaks +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	75.0%	75.0%	Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Fargo

17.3 min

Thousand Oaks

N/A

Metric	Fargo, ND	Thousand Oaks, CA	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	17.3 min	N/A	-

Which City is Right for You?

Fargo offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $318,584. On public safety, Fargo is safer with a violent crime rate of 288 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Thousand Oaks. Thousand Oaks has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Thousand Oaks scores better with a lower obesity rate of 23.0%.

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About Fargo & Thousand Oaks

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