Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fremont, CA
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Mesa leads 12 of 21 categories
Fremont
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$169,023 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
228,795
Mesa
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,766
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $95,257 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Mesa
More college-educated — 61.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (195.7 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 106°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.0%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,231,500
Higher rents — median is $2,824/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Mesa
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $904k less ($327,700 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $1472/mo less ($1,352 vs $2,824)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 58°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $95,257/yr
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 4.0%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Fremont
Median Income
$95,257
$169,023 vs $73,766/yr
Fremont
Violent Crime
59% lower
195.7 vs 482.7 per 100k
Fremont
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.0% vs 4.7% unemployment
Mesa
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Mesa
Median Home Value
$904k less
$327,700 vs $1,231,500
Mesa
Summer Heat
28.9°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 77.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fremont, CA | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,231,500⚠ High | $327,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,824⚠ High | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $169,023 ✓ Higher | $73,766 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 14.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.9% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 90.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fremont Unified | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.0°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 228,795 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 36.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% | 63.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fremont's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Mesa is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Mesa leads 12 of 21 categories. Fremont wins 9 and Mesa 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 Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,231,500 vs $327,700 median home), income ($169,023 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fremont, CA and Mesa, AZ are about 641 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.