Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fremont, CA
VS
Highlands Ranch, CO
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 17 of 23 categories
Fremont
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$169,023 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52
Population
228,795 ✓ Larger
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$148,227
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fremont, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (195.7 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $20,796 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 45°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,231,500
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Higher rents — median is $2,824/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Highlands Ranch
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Homes cost $594k less ($637,400 vs $1,231,500)
29% less violent crime than Fremont
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $471/mo less ($2,353 vs $2,824)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $20,796/yr
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fremont
Median Income
$20,796
$169,023 vs $148,227/yr
Highlands Ranch
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
29% lower
138.1 vs 195.7 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Median Home Value
$594k less
$637,400 vs $1,231,500
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.0% unemployment
Highlands Ranch
Summer Heat
10.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 77.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fremont, CA | Highlands Ranch, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,231,500⚠ High | $637,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,824⚠ High | $2,353⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $169,023 ✓ Higher | $148,227 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 26.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.9% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 98.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fremont Unified | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 44.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.0°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" ✓ Drier | 18.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 228,795 ✓ Larger | 101,514 |
| Median Age | 38.6 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fremont's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Highlands Ranch's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Highlands Ranch is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 17 of 23 categories. Fremont wins 6 and Highlands Ranch wins 17. 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 Highlands Ranch or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,231,500 vs $637,400 median home), income ($169,023 vs $148,227), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fremont, CA and Highlands Ranch, CO are about 927 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.