Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Fremont, CA
🏆 Fremont leads 13 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$121,539
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
117,962
Fremont
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$169,023 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
228,795 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Homes cost $234k less ($997,600 vs $1,231,500)
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.3%)
Rent averages $196/mo less ($2,628 vs $2,824)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $47,484/yr
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Fremont, CA
Pros
55% less violent crime than Cambridge
Households earn $47,484 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 37°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 85°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,231,500
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Higher unemployment (4.0% vs 3.3%)
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Cambridge
Median Home Value
$234k less
$997,600 vs $1,231,500
Cambridge
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.0% unemployment
Cambridge
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 84.7°F vs 77.0°F
Fremont
Median Income
$47,484
$169,023 vs $121,539/yr
Fremont
Violent Crime
55% lower
195.7 vs 436.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Fremont, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,231,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,824⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 | $169,023 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 4.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter | 33.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% | 28.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 61.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 93.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Fremont Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer | 77.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 14.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 228,795 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 60.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Fremont's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Cambridge is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fremont leads 13 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 10 and Fremont 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 Cambridge to Fremont or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $1,231,500 median home), income ($121,539 vs $169,023), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Fremont, CA are about 2,673 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.