Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fremont, CA
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Fremont leads 15 of 23 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
Spokane Valley
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,483
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
103,761
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $102,540 more per year on average
19% less violent crime than Spokane Valley
More college-educated — 61.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (195.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 38°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 17% higher than Spokane Valley
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
Homes cost $924k less ($307,700 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $1649/mo less ($1,175 vs $2,824)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $102,540/yr
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.0%)
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fremont
Median Income
$102,540
$169,023 vs $66,483/yr
Fremont
Violent Crime
19% lower
195.7 vs 242.1 per 100k
Fremont
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Spokane Valley
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Spokane Valley
Median Home Value
$924k less
$307,700 vs $1,231,500
Spokane Valley
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 77.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fremont, CA | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,231,500⚠ High | $307,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,824⚠ High | $1,175 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $169,023 ✓ Higher | $66,483 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.9% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fremont Unified | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.0°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" ✓ Drier | 17.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 228,795 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 57.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fremont's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane Valley is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fremont leads 15 of 23 categories. Fremont wins 15 and Spokane Valley 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 Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,231,500 vs $307,700 median home), income ($169,023 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fremont, CA and Spokane Valley, WA are about 742 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.