Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fremont, CA
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 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
Richmond
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
227,171
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $109,417 more per year on average
42% less violent crime than Richmond
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (195.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 61.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,231,500
Higher rents — median is $2,824/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Richmond
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Richmond, VA
Pros
Homes cost $923k less ($308,300 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $1597/mo less ($1,227 vs $2,824)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $109,417/yr
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fremont
Median Income
$109,417
$169,023 vs $59,606/yr
Fremont
Violent Crime
42% lower
195.7 vs 336.9 per 100k
Fremont
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Richmond
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Median Home Value
$923k less
$308,300 vs $1,231,500
Richmond
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 89.5°F vs 77.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fremont, CA | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,231,500⚠ High | $308,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,824⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $169,023 ✓ Higher | $59,606 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 14.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.9% ✓ Higher | 44.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fremont Unified | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 47.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.0°F | 89.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 228,795 ✓ Larger | 227,171 |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 43.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fremont's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fremont leads 15 of 22 categories. Fremont wins 15 and Richmond 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,231,500 vs $308,300 median home), income ($169,023 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fremont, CA and Richmond, VA are about 2,413 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.