Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fremont, CA
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Fremont leads 11 of 21 categories
Fremont
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$169,023
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
228,795 ✓ Larger
Sunnyvale
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
154,573
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fremont, CA
Pros
Homes cost $449k less ($1,231,500 vs $1,680,700)
20% less violent crime than Sunnyvale
Violent crime is well below the national average (195.7 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $166/mo less ($2,824 vs $2,990)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Sunnyvale
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $5,483/yr
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Smaller class sizes — 21.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $5,483 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Fremont
Violent Crime
20% lower
195.7 vs 244.5 per 100k
Fremont
Median Home Value
$449k less
$1,231,500 vs $1,680,700
Sunnyvale
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 112.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$5,483
$174,506 vs $169,023/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fremont, CA | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,231,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,824⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $169,023 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 24.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 21.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.9% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fremont Unified | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.0°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 228,795 ✓ Larger | 154,573 |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fremont's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Sunnyvale is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Fremont leads 11 of 21 categories. Fremont wins 11 and Sunnyvale 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,231,500 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($169,023 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fremont, CA and Sunnyvale, CA are about 9 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.