Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fremont, CA
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Fremont leads 13 of 23 categories
Fremont
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$169,023 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52
Population
228,795 ✓ Larger
Santa Clarita
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$116,186
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
225,850
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $52,837 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (195.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 61.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 24.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,231,500
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Higher rents — median is $2,824/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Santa Clarita
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
Homes cost $562k less ($669,200 vs $1,231,500)
15% less violent crime than Fremont
Rent averages $509/mo less ($2,315 vs $2,824)
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 58°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $52,837/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fremont
Median Income
$52,837
$169,023 vs $116,186/yr
Fremont
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.5% unemployment
Santa Clarita
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
15% lower
165.4 vs 195.7 per 100k
Santa Clarita
Median Home Value
$562k less
$669,200 vs $1,231,500
Santa Clarita
Summer Heat
17.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 77.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fremont, CA | Santa Clarita, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,231,500⚠ High | $669,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,824⚠ High | $2,315⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $169,023 ✓ Higher | $116,186 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 35.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 13.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.9% ✓ Higher | 38.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fremont Unified | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.0°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" ✓ Drier | 15.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 228,795 ✓ Larger | 225,850 |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fremont's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Santa Clarita is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fremont leads 13 of 23 categories. Fremont wins 13 and Santa Clarita wins 10. 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 Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,231,500 vs $669,200 median home), income ($169,023 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fremont, CA and Santa Clarita, CA are about 287 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.