Fremont vs Arlington: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Fremont, CA and Arlington, VA, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricFremont, CAArlington, VA
Population228,795235,845
Median household income$169,023$137,387
Median home value$1,231,500$833,300
Median rent (/mo)$2,824$2,227

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Fremont, CA and Arlington, VA comes down to what you value most. Arlington has the lower median home value, and Arlington has the lower median rent.

Fremont has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Fremont or Arlington?
By median home value, Arlington is the cheaper of the two ($833,300 vs $1,231,500). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Fremont or Arlington?
Median household income is $169,023 in Fremont versus $137,387 in Arlington, per the US Census Bureau.

More comparisons