Fremont, CA Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Fremont, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Fremont →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Population in Fremont, California runs approximately 228,795. Median household income sits at $169,023, landing above the benchmark median we track across cities (+134%).
For renters and buyers alike, Fremont offers a median home value of $1,231,500 (above the tracked median, +277%) and median rent of $2,824 monthly. Local property taxes and current mortgage rates will shape the real cost of buying.
Fremont's home-price-to-income ratio of about 7.3× signals a meaningfully stretched housing market relative to local incomes. Year-over-year, home prices near Fremont have eased by about 1.91%, a mild cooldown rather than a sharp drop. Fremont carries a Very High hazard rating from FEMA — elevated risk that's typically reflected in higher insurance premiums.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $2,824/mo in Fremont would take 20.0% of your income.
$1,402/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($1,231,500) would take 46.7% of your income toward principal & interest.
$2,631/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Fremont
Median home value is $1,231,500 and median gross rent is $2,824/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Alameda fell 1.91% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $2,912/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Fremont's overall natural-hazard risk as Very High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Fremont reported a violent crime rate of 105.9 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Fremont
Planning a move to Fremont? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Fremont, CA?
- In Fremont, the median home value is $1,231,500 and median rent is $2,824 per month, against a median household income of $169,023. These figures come from the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Fremont?
- Using the standard 30%-of-income rule of thumb, affording Fremont's median rent of $2,824/month takes an income of roughly $112,960 a year. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Fremont.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Fremont?
- In Fremont, comfortably renting the median unit ($2,824/month) takes about $112,960 in annual income, while buying the median home ($1,231,500) takes roughly $281,761 a year in principal and interest alone (assumes 20% down, a 30-year fixed loan, and current mortgage rates).
- Is Fremont safe?
- Fremont's violent crime rate, per FBI reporting for 2025, stands at 105.9 per 100,000 residents.
See the full salary breakdown for Fremont →
Cities with a similar cost of living
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