Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fremont, CA
VS
Indianapolis, IN
🏆 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
Indianapolis
Indiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,110
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $109,913 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than Indianapolis
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 1.6 pts lower (4.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 34°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,231,500
Higher rents — median is $2,824/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Indianapolis
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Homes cost $1047k less ($184,600 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $1778/mo less ($1,046 vs $2,824)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $109,913/yr
Violent crime (877.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3336.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fremont
Median Income
$109,913
$169,023 vs $59,110/yr
Fremont
Violent Crime
78% lower
195.7 vs 877.9 per 100k
Fremont
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Indianapolis
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Indianapolis
Median Home Value
$1047k less
$184,600 vs $1,231,500
Indianapolis
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 83.7°F vs 77.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fremont, CA | Indianapolis, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,231,500⚠ High | $184,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,824⚠ High | $1,046 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $169,023 ✓ Higher | $59,110 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 10.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 159⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.9% ✓ Higher | 33.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fremont Unified | Indianapolis Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 34.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.0°F | 83.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" ✓ Drier | 41.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 25.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 228,795 | 882,006 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fremont's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Indianapolis's 94.6 (US average = 100).
Indianapolis is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fremont leads 15 of 23 categories. Fremont wins 15 and Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,231,500 vs $184,600 median home), income ($169,023 vs $59,110), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fremont, CA and Indianapolis, IN are about 1,925 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.