Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fremont, CA
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Fremont leads 15 of 22 categories
Fremont
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$169,023 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
228,795 ✓ Larger
Providence
Rhode Island
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
189,715
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $107,658 more per year on average
29% less violent crime than Providence
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 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)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 38°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)
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Providence
Providence, RI
Pros
Homes cost $939k less ($293,000 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $1610/mo less ($1,214 vs $2,824)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $107,658/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fremont
Median Income
$107,658
$169,023 vs $61,365/yr
Fremont
Violent Crime
29% lower
195.7 vs 276.7 per 100k
Fremont
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.0% vs 7.2% unemployment
Providence
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Providence
Median Home Value
$939k less
$293,000 vs $1,231,500
Providence
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 83.6°F vs 77.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fremont, CA | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,231,500⚠ High | $293,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,824⚠ High | $1,214 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $169,023 ✓ Higher | $61,365 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 73 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.9% ✓ Higher | 34.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fremont Unified | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.0°F | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" ✓ Drier | 47.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 36.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 228,795 ✓ Larger | 189,715 |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fremont's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Providence is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fremont leads 15 of 22 categories. Fremont wins 15 and Providence wins 7. 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,231,500 vs $293,000 median home), income ($169,023 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fremont, CA and Providence, RI are about 2,665 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.