Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fremont, CA
VS
Germantown, MD
🏆 Fremont leads 12 of 20 categories
Fremont
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$169,023 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52
Population
228,795 ✓ Larger
Germantown
Maryland
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$109,268
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $59,755 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (195.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.0%)
More college-educated — 61.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 84°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)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Germantown
Germantown, MD
Pros
Homes cost $838k less ($393,700 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $916/mo less ($1,908 vs $2,824)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $59,755/yr
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fremont
Median Income
$59,755
$169,023 vs $109,268/yr
Fremont
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.2% unemployment
Germantown
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Germantown
Median Home Value
$838k less
$393,700 vs $1,231,500
Germantown
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 84.3°F vs 77.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fremont, CA | Germantown, MD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,231,500⚠ High | $393,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,824⚠ High | $1,908⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $169,023 ✓ Higher | $109,268 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.9% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fremont Unified | Montgomery County Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.0°F | 84.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" ✓ Drier | 46.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 32.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 228,795 ✓ Larger | 90,210 |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% | 65.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fremont's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Germantown's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Germantown is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Fremont leads 12 of 20 categories. Fremont wins 12 and Germantown wins 8. 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 Fremont to Germantown or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,231,500 vs $393,700 median home), income ($169,023 vs $109,268), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fremont, CA and Germantown, MD are about 2,400 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.