Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fremont, CA
VS
Jersey City, NJ
🏆 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
Jersey City
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$91,151
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $77,872 more per year on average
65% less violent crime than Jersey City
Violent crime is well below the national average (195.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 61.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 6% higher than Jersey City
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $731k less ($500,100 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $1025/mo less ($1,799 vs $2,824)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $77,872/yr
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fremont
Median Income
$77,872
$169,023 vs $91,151/yr
Fremont
Violent Crime
65% lower
195.7 vs 561.6 per 100k
Fremont
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Jersey City
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Jersey City
Median Home Value
$731k less
$500,100 vs $1,231,500
Jersey City
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 77.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fremont, CA | Jersey City, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,231,500⚠ High | $500,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,824⚠ High | $1,799⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $169,023 ✓ Higher | $91,151 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 37.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 18.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 148⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.9% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fremont Unified | Jersey City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.0°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 228,795 | 287,899 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 29.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fremont's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Jersey City's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Jersey City is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fremont leads 15 of 23 categories. Fremont wins 15 and Jersey City 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 Jersey City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,231,500 vs $500,100 median home), income ($169,023 vs $91,151), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fremont, CA and Jersey City, NJ are about 2,545 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.