Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fremont, CA
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 16 of 22 categories
Fremont
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$169,023 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52
Population
228,795 ✓ Larger
Surprise
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,756
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $81,267 more per year on average
More college-educated — 61.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (195.7 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 105°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.0%)
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 Surprise
Surprise, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $879k less ($352,600 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $1002/mo less ($1,822 vs $2,824)
44% less violent crime than Fremont
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 58°F
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $81,267/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Fremont
Median Income
$81,267
$169,023 vs $87,756/yr
Fremont
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.0% vs 4.6% unemployment
Surprise
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Violent Crime
44% lower
109.1 vs 195.7 per 100k
Surprise
Median Home Value
$879k less
$352,600 vs $1,231,500
Surprise
Summer Heat
27.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 77.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fremont, CA | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,231,500⚠ High | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,824⚠ High | $1,822⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $169,023 ✓ Higher | $87,756 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 14.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.9% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fremont Unified | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.0°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 228,795 ✓ Larger | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 38.6 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fremont's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Surprise leads 16 of 22 categories. Fremont wins 6 and Surprise wins 16. 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,231,500 vs $352,600 median home), income ($169,023 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fremont, CA and Surprise, AZ are about 595 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.