Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fremont, CA
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Fremont leads 16 of 23 categories
Fremont
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$169,023 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
228,795 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Missouri
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $125,573 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than Springfield
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 0.8 pts lower (4.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 43°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,231,500
Higher rents — median is $2,824/mo
Cost of living runs 29% higher than Springfield
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $1085k less ($146,400 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $1946/mo less ($878 vs $2,824)
29% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $125,573/yr
Violent crime (1178.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4184.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fremont
Median Income
$125,573
$169,023 vs $43,450/yr
Fremont
Violent Crime
83% lower
195.7 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Fremont
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.0% vs 4.8% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
29% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$1085k less
$146,400 vs $1,231,500
Springfield
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 77.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fremont, CA | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,231,500⚠ High | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,824⚠ High | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $169,023 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.9% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 91.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fremont Unified | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.0°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 228,795 ✓ Larger | 168,873 |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fremont's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 29% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fremont leads 16 of 23 categories. Fremont wins 16 and Springfield wins 7. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,231,500 vs $146,400 median home), income ($169,023 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fremont, CA and Springfield, MO are about 1,568 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.