Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fremont, CA
VS
Long Beach, CA
🏆 Fremont leads 13 of 22 categories
Fremont
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$169,023 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
228,795
Long Beach
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,995
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $90,028 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Long Beach
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.0%)
More college-educated — 61.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (195.7 vs 380/100k)
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 3% higher than Long Beach
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Homes cost $522k less ($709,700 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $1126/mo less ($1,698 vs $2,824)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 58°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $90,028/yr
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3478.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fremont
Median Income
$90,028
$169,023 vs $78,995/yr
Fremont
Violent Crime
71% lower
195.7 vs 676.4 per 100k
Fremont
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Long Beach
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Long Beach
Median Home Value
$522k less
$709,700 vs $1,231,500
Long Beach
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 81.4°F vs 77.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fremont, CA | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,231,500⚠ High | $709,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,824⚠ High | $1,698⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $169,023 ✓ Higher | $78,995 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 30.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 166⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 23.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.9% ✓ Higher | 33.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fremont Unified | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.0°F | 81.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" | 12.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 228,795 | 462,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fremont's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Long Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Long Beach is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fremont leads 13 of 22 categories. Fremont wins 13 and Long Beach wins 9. 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 Long Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,231,500 vs $709,700 median home), income ($169,023 vs $78,995), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fremont, CA and Long Beach, CA are about 333 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.