Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fremont, CA
VS
Glendale, AZ
🏆 Fremont leads 13 of 23 categories
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
Glendale
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
248,083 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $102,648 more per year on average
60% less violent crime than Glendale
More college-educated — 61.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (195.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 105°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,231,500
Higher rents — median is $2,824/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Glendale
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $922k less ($310,000 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $1556/mo less ($1,268 vs $2,824)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 58°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $102,648/yr
Violent crime (488.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2670.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fremont
Median Income
$102,648
$169,023 vs $66,375/yr
Fremont
Violent Crime
60% lower
195.7 vs 488.4 per 100k
Fremont
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.7% unemployment
Glendale
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Median Home Value
$922k less
$310,000 vs $1,231,500
Glendale
Summer Heat
27.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 77.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fremont, CA | Glendale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,231,500⚠ High | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,824⚠ High | $1,268 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $169,023 ✓ Higher | $66,375 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.9% ✓ Higher | 22.6% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 84.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fremont Unified | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.0°F | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" | 8.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 228,795 | 248,083 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 57.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 25.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fremont's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Glendale's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fremont leads 13 of 23 categories. Fremont wins 13 and Glendale wins 10. 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 Glendale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,231,500 vs $310,000 median home), income ($169,023 vs $66,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fremont, CA and Glendale, AZ are about 612 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.