Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fremont, CA
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Fremont leads 12 of 23 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
Phoenix
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $96,931 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Phoenix
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 1.2 pts lower (4.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 104°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,231,500
Higher rents — median is $2,824/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Phoenix
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $891k less ($340,200 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $1502/mo less ($1,322 vs $2,824)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 58°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $96,931/yr
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.0%)
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Fremont
Median Income
$96,931
$169,023 vs $72,092/yr
Fremont
Violent Crime
76% lower
195.7 vs 799.6 per 100k
Fremont
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.2% unemployment
Phoenix
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$891k less
$340,200 vs $1,231,500
Phoenix
Summer Heat
27.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 77.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fremont, CA | Phoenix, 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 | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,824⚠ High | $1,322 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $169,023 ✓ Higher | $72,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 14.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 111⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.9% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fremont Unified | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.0°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 228,795 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 56.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fremont's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fremont leads 12 of 23 categories. Fremont wins 12 and Phoenix wins 11. 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 Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,231,500 vs $340,200 median home), income ($169,023 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fremont, CA and Phoenix, AZ are about 616 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.