Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Fremont, CA
🏆 Arlington leads 13 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$137,387
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Fremont
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$169,023 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
228,795
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Homes cost $398k less ($833,300 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $597/mo less ($2,227 vs $2,824)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (2.8%)
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $31,636/yr
Fremont, CA
Pros
23% less violent crime than Arlington
Households earn $31,636 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (195.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 45°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,231,500
Higher rents — median is $2,824/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Higher unemployment (4.0% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Home Value
$398k less
$833,300 vs $1,231,500
Arlington
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
2.8% vs 4.0% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 77.0°F
Fremont
Median Income
$31,636
$169,023 vs $137,387/yr
Fremont
Violent Crime
23% lower
195.7 vs 254.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Fremont, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,231,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,824⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 | $169,023 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 4.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% | 28.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 61.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 93.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Fremont Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 77.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 14.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 228,795 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 60.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Fremont's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 13 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 13 and Fremont wins 10. 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 Arlington to Fremont or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $1,231,500 median home), income ($137,387 vs $169,023), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Fremont, CA are about 2,412 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.