Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Fremont, CA
🏆 Fremont leads 15 of 23 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,070
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Fremont
California
15
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.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Homes cost $919k less ($312,800 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $1425/mo less ($1,399 vs $2,824)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $94,953/yr
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 4.0%)
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $94,953 more per year on average
73% less violent crime than Charlotte
Violent crime is well below the national average (195.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.0%)
More college-educated — 61.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Charlotte
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charlotte
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Charlotte
Median Home Value
$919k less
$312,800 vs $1,231,500
Charlotte
Summer Heat
13.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 77.0°F
Fremont
Median Income
$94,953
$169,023 vs $74,070/yr
Fremont
Violent Crime
73% lower
195.7 vs 733.2 per 100k
Fremont
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.0% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Fremont, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,231,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,824⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 | $169,023 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 33.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% | 28.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Fremont Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 77.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" | 14.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 228,795 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 60.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Fremont's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Charlotte is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fremont leads 15 of 23 categories. Charlotte wins 8 and Fremont wins 15. 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 Charlotte to Fremont or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $1,231,500 median home), income ($74,070 vs $169,023), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Fremont, CA are about 2,275 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.