Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fremont, CA
VS
Independence, MO
🏆 Fremont leads 15 of 23 categories
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 ✓ Larger
Independence
Missouri
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $111,608 more per year on average
66% less violent crime than Independence
More college-educated — 61.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (195.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,231,500
Higher rents — median is $2,824/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Independence
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $1081k less ($150,800 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $1804/mo less ($1,020 vs $2,824)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $111,608/yr
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fremont
Median Income
$111,608
$169,023 vs $57,415/yr
Fremont
Violent Crime
66% lower
195.7 vs 571.2 per 100k
Fremont
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.0% vs 6.2% unemployment
Independence
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Home Value
$1081k less
$150,800 vs $1,231,500
Independence
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 77.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fremont, CA | Independence, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,231,500⚠ High | $150,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,824⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $169,023 ✓ Higher | $57,415 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 8.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.9% ✓ Higher | 19.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fremont Unified | INDEPENDENCE 30 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 37.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.0°F | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" ✓ Drier | 44.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 228,795 ✓ Larger | 122,218 |
| Median Age | 38.6 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 60.5% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 18.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fremont's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Independence's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Independence is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fremont leads 15 of 23 categories. Fremont wins 15 and Independence 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 Independence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,231,500 vs $150,800 median home), income ($169,023 vs $57,415), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fremont, CA and Independence, MO are about 1,494 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.