City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Fremont, CA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Fremont - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

228,518
Residents
$176,350
Median income
$1,289,400
Median home
$2,912
Median rent (state)

Fremont - the verdict

Nationally, Fremont sits in the 97th percentile for household income and the 22nd percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

97th
percentile, household income
99th
percentile, home value
97th
percentile, median rent
22nd
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Fremont, CA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 228,518 residents in Fremont, a mid-sized U.S. city within California. Fremont households earn a median of $176,350 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 3.6%. Home values in Fremont run a median of $1,289,400, and the median resident age is 38.8 years. About 62.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 64.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 131 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 89% from five years earlier. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 2523.3 incidents per 100,000 residents, near the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 59.5°F with 15.9 inches of precipitation per year.

California carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts California at 110.7 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Above Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,912 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $275 across California, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Commute times here average 21.6 minutes, with 54.4% driving alone and 30.7% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 99.8 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

228,518 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$176,350 /yr

Poverty 3.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Fremont compare to other US cities?

Here's how Fremont stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 97% higher than other cities
Home value 99% pricier than other cities
Median rent 97% pricier than other cities
Safety 22% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to California alone, Fremont ranks #312 of 441 California cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Fremont's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in California, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

97thIncome percentile
22ndSafety percentile

97th percentile nationally for median household income · 22nd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Fremont's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Fremont's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 40 Avg. percentile National median
Fremont's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Fremont's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$1,289,400 1st percentile more affordable than 1% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. Fremont $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Fremont, CA Fremont, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Fremont, CA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Fremont, CA median $176,350/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Fremont, CA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Fremont, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 62.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 64.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
228,518
Median Income
$176,350
Median Home Value
$1,289,400
Median Age
38.8
Poverty Rate
3.6%
Labor force participation
64.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
62.7%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2523.3
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
195.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2327.6
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
59.5°F
Annual Precipitation
15.9"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"

Schools

Total Schools
45
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
226,000 residents228,000 residents230,000 residents232,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 230,446 residents 226,442 residents ▼ -1.7%
Fremont's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
131
housing units authorized
Single-Family
77
detached homes
Multifamily
54
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1,148
2020 286
2021 719
2022 1,080
2023 681
2024 131

Permit volume decreased 89% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
21.6 minutes
Drive Alone
54.4%
Carpool
7.3%
Public Transit
4.7%
Walk
1.1%
Work from Home
30.7%
Other
1.8%

Based on 107,958 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for California - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Fremont sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,912/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.8 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Santa Clarita
229,021 people
San Bernardino
221,774 people
Modesto
218,614 people
Fontana
211,921 people
Moreno Valley
210,378 people
Oxnard
201,014 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Fremont's 228,518 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Spokane, WA
229,228 people
Richmond, VA
227,595 people
Enterprise, NV
232,043 people
Baton Rouge, LA
223,699 people
Norfolk, VA
235,037 people
Hialeah, FL
221,901 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Fremont's $176,350 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Kent Narrows, MD
$176,429 median income
Dilworthtown, PA
$176,438 median income
Maunawili, HI
$176,528 median income
Franklin, MI
$176,571 median income
Cos Cob, CT
$176,602 median income
Lake Quivira, KS
$176,607 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Fremont, CA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Fremont, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 19.4% 62.5% 7.5% 6.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 12.9% White 19.4% Black or African American 2.9% Asian 62.5% American Indian 0.5% Native Hawaiian 0.5% Some other race 7.5% Two or more races 6.7% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Fremont compares to nearby California cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Fremont (this city) 228,518 $176,350
Santa Clarita 229,021 $119,926
San Bernardino 221,774 $63,988
Modesto 218,614 $77,899
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Fremont, CA?

What is the population of Fremont, CA? +

Fremont, CA has a population of 228,518 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Fremont, CA? +

The median household income in Fremont is $176,350 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Fremont? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Fremont; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

Is Fremont, CA safe? +

Fremont has a total crime rate of 2523.3 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Fremont, CA? +

Fremont's median home value sits at $1,289,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Fremont? +

Climate normals put Fremont's yearly average temperature at 59.5°F, 15.9 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.