Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Fremont, CA
🏆 Fremont leads 14 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Fremont
California
14
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.
Austin, TX
Pros
Homes cost $770k less ($461,500 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $1275/mo less ($1,549 vs $2,824)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $82,467/yr
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $82,467 more per year on average
58% less violent crime than Austin
Violent crime is well below the national average (195.7 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 97°F
More college-educated — 61.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,231,500
Higher rents — median is $2,824/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Austin
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Median Home Value
$770k less
$461,500 vs $1,231,500
Austin
Summer Heat
19.6°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 77.0°F
Fremont
Median Income
$82,467
$169,023 vs $86,556/yr
Fremont
Violent Crime
58% lower
195.7 vs 466.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Fremont, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,231,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,824⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 | $169,023 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 33.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% | 28.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Fremont Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 58.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 77.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 14.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 228,795 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 60.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Fremont's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Austin is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fremont leads 14 of 23 categories. Austin wins 9 and Fremont wins 14. 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 Austin to Fremont or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $1,231,500 median home), income ($86,556 vs $169,023), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Fremont, CA are about 1,468 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.