City Comparison
Fremont vs Sacramento
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Fremont scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Fremont
Sacramento
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Sacramento is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
29% lower than in Fremont.
Housing costs are a major driver: Fremont's average rent is
52% higher than Sacramento's.
| Metric | Fremont | Sacramento | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,957 | $1,946 | +52% |
| Groceries | $450 | $400 | +13% |
| Utilities | $180 | $180 | 0% |
| Transport | $150 | $90 | +67% |
| Healthcare | $270 | $230 | +17% |
| Monthly Total | $4,007 | $2,846 | +41% |
| Cost Index | 156 | 112 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Fremont offers 30% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Sacramento delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Fremont is estimated at
$95,000 vs $65,000 in Sacramento.
| Metric | Fremont | Sacramento |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $100,250 | $77,000 |
| Salary Needed | $95,000 | $65,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 64,263 idx | 68,750 idx |
| Household Income | $181,506 | $91,387 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Fremont runs warmer on average — a 59.6°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Fremont comes out ahead with 313 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Fremont sees 0 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Fremont | Sacramento |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 59.60°F | °F |
| Summer High | 75.60°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 42.90°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 20.20 in | in |
| Snowfall | 0.00 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 313 | |
| Humidity | 65.00% | 55.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Sacramento has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
1,500 minutes (25 hours) per year compared to Fremont.
Sacramento scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Fremont leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Fremont | Sacramento |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 30 min | 27 min |
| Transit Score | 52.0/100 | 55.0/100 |
| Walkability | 58.0/100 | 47.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 68.00 | 47.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Sacramento is the larger city
— approximately 0.4x the population of Fremont.
From a growth perspective, Sacramento is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Fremont has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Fremont | Sacramento |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 226,442 | 536,449 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 0.53% |
| Median Age | 39.1 | 36.0 |
| Unemployment | 4.30% | 5.00% |
| GDP | — | $135.5B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Fremont
Advantages
Median household income reaches $181,506, significantly outperforming regional and national medians
Fremont accounts for a major share of Silicon Valley advanced manufacturing and AI hardware leasing activity
Consistently ranks among the safest large cities in the United States with low violent crime rates
Home to top-tier educational institutions within the Fremont Unified School District
Extensive park systems and recreational assets including Lake Elizabeth and Central Park
Drawbacks
Median home values exceed $1.4 million, creating steep barriers to entry for prospective homebuyers
Average monthly apartment rent sits around $2,957, running roughly 60% above the U.S. average
High cost of living index significantly exceeding the national average
Severe shortage of industrial electrical capacity and high-end commercial spaces relative to surging corporate demand
Significant highway traffic congestion during peak commuting hours across regional corridors
Sacramento
Advantages
Median home prices and rental rates remain significantly more affordable than coastal California hubs like San Francisco and San Jose.
Thriving farm-to-fork culinary scene with nationally acclaimed local restaurants and frequent community farmers' markets.
Extensive outdoor recreation access via the 32-mile American River Parkway and close proximity to Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada.
Stable, recession-resilient job market anchored by California state government administration and major healthcare systems.
Abundant sunshine and a Mediterranean climate averaging over 260 sunny days per year.
Drawbacks
Summer temperatures frequently exceed 95°F to 100°F, creating high cooling demands and seasonal heat advisories.
Property crime rates and urban homelessness present ongoing challenges in select downtown and inner-city commercial corridors.
Public transit infrastructure is limited outside of central urban grids, making outer neighborhoods heavily car-dependent.
State income tax rates align with California's top-tier state brackets, impacting high-earning households.
Vulnerability to seasonal wildfire smoke from surrounding foothills during dry summer and autumn months.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Fremont
#358California, USA
59.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,957
Avg Salary
$100,250
Cost Index
156
Commute
30 min
Transit Score
52.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
313/yr
Avg Temp
59.60°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.30%
Livability
82
Business
84
Sacramento
#542California, USA
49.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,946
Avg Salary
$77,000
Cost Index
112
Commute
27 min
Transit Score
55.0/100
Walkability
47.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.53%
Unemployment
5.00%
Livability
76
Business
72
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