Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fremont, CA
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 Fremont leads 14 of 22 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 ✓ Larger
San Bernardino
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,323
Violent Crime Index
236⚠ High
Population
221,041
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $107,700 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than San Bernardino
More college-educated — 61.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (4.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (195.7 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 95°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 10% higher than San Bernardino
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Homes cost $884k less ($347,100 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $1505/mo less ($1,319 vs $2,824)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 58°F
Smaller class sizes — 20.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $107,700/yr
Violent crime (897.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2897.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fremont
Median Income
$107,700
$169,023 vs $61,323/yr
Fremont
Violent Crime
78% lower
195.7 vs 897.1 per 100k
Fremont
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
4.0% vs 7.6% unemployment
San Bernardino
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
San Bernardino
Median Home Value
$884k less
$347,100 vs $1,231,500
San Bernardino
Summer Heat
18.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 77.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fremont, CA | San Bernardino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,231,500⚠ High | $347,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,824⚠ High | $1,319 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $169,023 ✓ Higher | $61,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 197⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 20.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.9% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fremont Unified | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.0°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" ✓ Drier | 21.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 228,795 ✓ Larger | 221,041 |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fremont's cost of living index is 118.2 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
San Bernardino is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fremont leads 14 of 22 categories. Fremont wins 14 and San Bernardino wins 8. 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 San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,231,500 vs $347,100 median home), income ($169,023 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fremont, CA and San Bernardino, CA are about 348 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.