Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Fremont, CA
🏆 Fremont leads 13 of 21 categories
Compton
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
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.
Compton, CA
Pros
Homes cost $742k less ($489,400 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $1360/mo less ($1,464 vs $2,824)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 58°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $99,295/yr
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3145.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $99,295 more per year on average
85% less violent crime than Compton
More college-educated — 61.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (4.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (195.7 vs 380/100k)
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)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Compton
Key Differences at a Glance
Compton
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Compton
Median Home Value
$742k less
$489,400 vs $1,231,500
Fremont
Median Income
$99,295
$169,023 vs $69,728/yr
Fremont
Violent Crime
85% lower
195.7 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Fremont
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
4.0% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Fremont, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,231,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,824⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 | $169,023 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 28.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | Fremont Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 58.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F ✓ Warmer | 77.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 14.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 228,795 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% | 60.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Fremont's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Compton is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Fremont leads 13 of 21 categories. Compton wins 8 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 Compton to Fremont or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $1,231,500 median home), income ($69,728 vs $169,023), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Fremont, CA are about 324 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.