Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fremont, CA
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Fremont leads 14 of 23 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
Reno
Nevada
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,073
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
265,196 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $95,950 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Reno
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 1.0 pts lower (4.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 93°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 15% higher than Reno
Reno, NV
Pros
Homes cost $769k less ($462,100 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $1464/mo less ($1,360 vs $2,824)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Smaller class sizes — 19.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $95,950/yr
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fremont
Median Income
$95,950
$169,023 vs $73,073/yr
Fremont
Violent Crime
63% lower
195.7 vs 529.6 per 100k
Fremont
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.0% unemployment
Reno
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 102.8 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Reno
Median Home Value
$769k less
$462,100 vs $1,231,500
Reno
Summer Heat
15.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 77.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fremont, CA | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,231,500⚠ High | $462,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,824⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $169,023 ✓ Higher | $73,073 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.9% ✓ Higher | 35.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fremont Unified | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 45.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.0°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 33.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 228,795 | 265,196 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 48.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 19.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fremont's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Reno is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fremont leads 14 of 23 categories. Fremont wins 14 and Reno wins 9. 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 Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,231,500 vs $462,100 median home), income ($169,023 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fremont, CA and Reno, NV are about 181 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.