Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fremont, CA
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 18 of 22 categories
Fremont
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$169,023 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52
Population
228,795
Scottsdale
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$104,197
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $64,826 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (195.7 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 99°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 14% higher than Scottsdale
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $580k less ($651,800 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $1056/mo less ($1,768 vs $2,824)
22% less violent crime than Fremont
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $64,826/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Fremont
Median Income
$64,826
$169,023 vs $104,197/yr
Scottsdale
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 104.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
22% lower
152.5 vs 195.7 per 100k
Scottsdale
Median Home Value
$580k less
$651,800 vs $1,231,500
Scottsdale
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.0% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
22.4°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 77.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fremont, CA | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,231,500⚠ High | $651,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,824⚠ High | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $169,023 ✓ Higher | $104,197 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 26.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.9% ✓ Higher | 61.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fremont Unified | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.0°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 228,795 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fremont's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Scottsdale is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 18 of 22 categories. Fremont wins 4 and Scottsdale wins 18. 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 Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,231,500 vs $651,800 median home), income ($169,023 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fremont, CA and Scottsdale, AZ are about 624 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.