Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fremont, CA
VS
Simi Valley, CA
🏆 Simi Valley leads 13 of 22 categories
Fremont
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$169,023 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52
Population
228,795 ✓ Larger
Simi Valley
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$112,144
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $56,879 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
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 95°F
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
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
Homes cost $527k less ($704,200 vs $1,231,500)
34% less violent crime than Fremont
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $422/mo less ($2,402 vs $2,824)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 58°F
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $56,879/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fremont
Median Income
$56,879
$169,023 vs $112,144/yr
Simi Valley
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 113.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
34% lower
129.1 vs 195.7 per 100k
Simi Valley
Median Home Value
$527k less
$704,200 vs $1,231,500
Simi Valley
Summer Heat
18.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 77.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fremont, CA | Simi Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,231,500⚠ High | $704,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,824⚠ High | $2,402⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $169,023 ✓ Higher | $112,144 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 28.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 14.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 21.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.9% ✓ Higher | 36.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 91.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fremont Unified | Simi Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.0°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" ✓ Drier | 17.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 228,795 ✓ Larger | 126,153 |
| Median Age | 38.6 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% | 72.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fremont's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Simi Valley's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Simi Valley is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 13 of 22 categories. Fremont wins 9 and Simi Valley wins 13. 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 Simi Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,231,500 vs $704,200 median home), income ($169,023 vs $112,144), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fremont, CA and Simi Valley, CA are about 286 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.