El Paso TX vs Fremont CA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

El Paso, TX

Texas · Population: 678,147

  • Median HH Income$58,734
  • Median Home Price$235,994
  • Unemployment6.2%
  • Bachelor's+27.5%

Fremont, CA

California · Population: 228,518

  • Median HH Income$176,350
  • Median Home Price$1,538,830
  • Unemployment4.3%
  • Bachelor's+62.7%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
El Paso
678,147
El Paso +
Fremont
228,518
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
El Paso
N/A
Fremont
N/A
Median Age
El Paso
34.1
El Paso +
Fremont
38.8
Foreign Born
El Paso
22.3%
Fremont
50.1%
Fremont +
White
El Paso
39.3%
El Paso +
Fremont
19.4%
Black
El Paso
3.6%
El Paso +
Fremont
2.9%
Asian
El Paso
1.5%
Fremont
62.5%
Fremont +
Hispanic
El Paso
81.3%
El Paso +
Fremont
12.9%
Spanish at Home
El Paso
N/A
Fremont
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
El Paso
$58,734
Fremont
$176,350
Fremont +
Per Capita Income
El Paso
$28,942
Fremont
$73,378
Fremont +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
El Paso
$63,758
Fremont
$77,230
Fremont +
Unemployment Rate
El Paso
6.2%
Fremont
4.3%
Fremont +
Poverty Rate
El Paso
18.4%
Fremont
5.1%
Fremont +
Bachelor's Degree+
El Paso
27.5%
Fremont
62.7%
Fremont +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
El Paso
$235,994
El Paso +
Fremont
$1,538,830
Homeownership Rate
El Paso
60.2%
Fremont
60.2%
Fremont +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
El Paso
442
El Paso +
Fremont
503
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
El Paso
2339
El Paso +
Fremont
2388

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
El Paso
33.8%
Fremont
17.3%
Fremont +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
El Paso
16.4%
Fremont
9.8%
Fremont +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
El Paso
17.2%
Fremont
12.7%
Fremont +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
El Paso
27.9%
Fremont
4.9%
Fremont +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
El Paso
16.5%
Fremont
13.9%
Fremont +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
El Paso
12.2%
Fremont
7.3%
Fremont +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
El Paso
64.3°F
Fremont
59.6°F
Fremont +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
El Paso
10.5 in
El Paso +
Fremont
16.7 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
El Paso
9.2 µg/m³
Fremont
7.9 µg/m³
Fremont +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
El Paso
55.0%
Fremont
75.0%
Fremont +

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
El Paso
25.1 min
El Paso +
Fremont
33.9 min

Which City is Right for You?

Fremont leads in median household income at $176,350, while el Paso offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $235,994. On public safety, El Paso is safer with a violent crime rate of 442 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Fremont. Fremont has a lower unemployment rate at 4.3%, and Fremont has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Fremont scores better with a lower obesity rate of 17.3%.

Compare More Cities

About El Paso & Fremont