Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fremont, CA
VS
Oceanside, CA
🏆 Fremont leads 14 of 22 categories
Fremont
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$169,023 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
228,795 ✓ Larger
Oceanside
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,701
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
173,722
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $82,322 more per year on average
57% less violent crime than Oceanside
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 1.9 pts lower (4.0%)
Smaller class sizes — 24.0:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Oceanside, CA
Pros
Homes cost $587k less ($644,600 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $746/mo less ($2,078 vs $2,824)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 58°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $82,322/yr
Violent crime (458.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fremont
Median Income
$82,322
$169,023 vs $86,701/yr
Fremont
Violent Crime
57% lower
195.7 vs 458.7 per 100k
Fremont
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.9% unemployment
Oceanside
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Oceanside
Median Home Value
$587k less
$644,600 vs $1,231,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fremont, CA | Oceanside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,231,500⚠ High | $644,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,824⚠ High | $2,078⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $169,023 ✓ Higher | $86,701 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 29.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 13.4% |
| 🔒 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 | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C (76) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 27.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.9% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fremont Unified | Scholarship Prep - Oceanside District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 66.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.0°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" | 11.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 228,795 ✓ Larger | 173,722 |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 57.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 21.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fremont's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Oceanside's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Oceanside is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fremont leads 14 of 22 categories. Fremont wins 14 and Oceanside 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 Oceanside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,231,500 vs $644,600 median home), income ($169,023 vs $86,701), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fremont, CA and Oceanside, CA are about 394 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.