Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fremont, CA
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Fremont leads 14 of 23 categories
Fremont
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$169,023 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
228,795
Washington
District of Columbia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,722
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $67,301 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than Washington
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (195.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 45°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°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 10% higher than Washington
Washington, DC
Pros
Homes cost $527k less ($705,000 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $1007/mo less ($1,817 vs $2,824)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $67,301/yr
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fremont
Median Income
$67,301
$169,023 vs $101,722/yr
Fremont
Violent Crime
79% lower
195.7 vs 925.9 per 100k
Fremont
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.0% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Washington
Median Home Value
$527k less
$705,000 vs $1,231,500
Washington
Summer Heat
12.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.8°F vs 77.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fremont, CA | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,231,500⚠ High | $705,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,824⚠ High | $1,817⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $169,023 ✓ Higher | $101,722 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 25.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.9% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 92.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fremont Unified | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.0°F | 89.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 228,795 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fremont's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Washington is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fremont leads 14 of 23 categories. Fremont wins 14 and Washington wins 9. 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,231,500 vs $705,000 median home), income ($169,023 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fremont, CA and Washington, DC are about 2,416 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.