Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fremont, CA
VS
Norwalk, CA
🏆 Fremont leads 12 of 22 categories
Fremont
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$169,023 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
228,795 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$91,259
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
101,893
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $77,764 more per year on average
48% less violent crime than Norwalk
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%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 84°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)
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Norwalk, CA
Pros
Homes cost $638k less ($593,100 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $964/mo less ($1,860 vs $2,824)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 58°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $77,764/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fremont
Median Income
$77,764
$169,023 vs $91,259/yr
Fremont
Violent Crime
48% lower
195.7 vs 374.4 per 100k
Fremont
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Norwalk
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Norwalk
Median Home Value
$638k less
$593,100 vs $1,231,500
Norwalk
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 84.4°F vs 77.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fremont, CA | Norwalk, 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 | $593,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,824⚠ High | $1,860⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $169,023 ✓ Higher | $91,259 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 29.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 99 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 22.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.9% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 76.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fremont Unified | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.0°F | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" ✓ Drier | 15.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 228,795 ✓ Larger | 101,893 |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% | 67.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fremont's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Norwalk's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Norwalk is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fremont leads 12 of 22 categories. Fremont wins 12 and Norwalk wins 10. 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,231,500 vs $593,100 median home), income ($169,023 vs $91,259), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fremont, CA and Norwalk, CA are about 329 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.