Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fremont, CA
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 Fremont leads 17 of 23 categories
Fremont
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$169,023 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
228,795 ✓ Larger
Renton
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,292
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
105,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $76,731 more per year on average
42% less violent crime than Renton
Violent crime is well below the national average (195.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 61.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°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 5% higher than Renton
Renton, WA
Pros
Homes cost $655k less ($576,800 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $960/mo less ($1,864 vs $2,824)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Smaller class sizes — 18.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $76,731/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3313.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fremont
Median Income
$76,731
$169,023 vs $92,292/yr
Fremont
Violent Crime
42% lower
195.7 vs 339.2 per 100k
Renton
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Renton
Median Home Value
$655k less
$576,800 vs $1,231,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fremont, CA | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,231,500⚠ High | $576,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,824⚠ High | $1,864⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $169,023 ✓ Higher | $92,292 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 30.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 18.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.9% ✓ Higher | 36.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 89.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fremont Unified | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.0°F | 77.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" ✓ Drier | 44.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 228,795 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 53.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fremont's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Renton is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fremont leads 17 of 23 categories. Fremont wins 17 and Renton wins 6. 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 Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,231,500 vs $576,800 median home), income ($169,023 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fremont, CA and Renton, WA are about 690 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.