Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fremont, CA
VS
Indio, CA
🏆 Indio leads 12 of 22 categories
Fremont
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$169,023 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
228,795 ✓ Larger
Indio
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$68,436
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
89,616
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $100,587 more per year on average
42% less violent crime than Indio
More college-educated — 61.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (4.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (195.7 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 106°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 Indio
Indio, CA
Pros
Homes cost $858k less ($373,200 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $1480/mo less ($1,344 vs $2,824)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 58°F
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $100,587/yr
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 4.0%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Fremont
Median Income
$100,587
$169,023 vs $68,436/yr
Fremont
Violent Crime
42% lower
195.7 vs 336.2 per 100k
Fremont
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
4.0% vs 7.3% unemployment
Indio
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Indio
Median Home Value
$858k less
$373,200 vs $1,231,500
Indio
Summer Heat
28.8°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 77.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fremont, CA | Indio, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,231,500⚠ High | $373,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,824⚠ High | $1,344⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $169,023 ✓ Higher | $68,436 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 23.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.9% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 77.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fremont Unified | Desert Sands Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 70.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.0°F | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" | 2.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 228,795 ✓ Larger | 89,616 |
| Median Age | 38.6 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% | 69.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 19.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fremont's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Indio's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Indio is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Indio leads 12 of 22 categories. Fremont wins 10 and Indio wins 12. 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 Indio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,231,500 vs $373,200 median home), income ($169,023 vs $68,436), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fremont, CA and Indio, CA are about 413 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.