Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fremont, CA
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 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
Vancouver
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,626
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
190,700
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $95,397 more per year on average
66% less violent crime than Vancouver
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 1.6 pts lower (4.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 47°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 12% higher than Vancouver
Vancouver, WA
Pros
Homes cost $828k less ($403,400 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $1299/mo less ($1,525 vs $2,824)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Smaller class sizes — 17.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $95,397/yr
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fremont
Median Income
$95,397
$169,023 vs $73,626/yr
Fremont
Violent Crime
66% lower
195.7 vs 582.3 per 100k
Fremont
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Vancouver
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Vancouver
Median Home Value
$828k less
$403,400 vs $1,231,500
Vancouver
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 80.9°F vs 77.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fremont, CA | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,231,500⚠ High | $403,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,824⚠ High | $1,525⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $169,023 ✓ Higher | $73,626 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.9% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 91.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fremont Unified | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 47.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.0°F | 80.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 228,795 ✓ Larger | 190,700 |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fremont's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Vancouver is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fremont leads 16 of 23 categories. Fremont wins 16 and Vancouver 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 Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,231,500 vs $403,400 median home), income ($169,023 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fremont, CA and Vancouver, WA are about 564 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.