Fremont CA vs Lansing MI — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

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

Fremont, CA

California · Population: 228,518

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

Lansing, MI

Michigan · Population: 112,546

  • Median HH Income$52,170
  • Median Home Price$166,132
  • Unemployment8.1%
  • Bachelor's+29.6%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Fremont
228,518
Fremont +
Lansing
112,546
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Fremont
N/A
Lansing
N/A
Median Age
Fremont
38.8
Lansing
33.5
Lansing +
Foreign Born
Fremont
50.1%
Fremont +
Lansing
10.1%
White
Fremont
19.4%
Lansing
56.1%
Lansing +
Black
Fremont
2.9%
Lansing
23.4%
Lansing +
Asian
Fremont
62.5%
Fremont +
Lansing
5.3%
Hispanic
Fremont
12.9%
Fremont +
Lansing
12.9%
Spanish at Home
Fremont
N/A
Lansing
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Fremont
$176,350
Fremont +
Lansing
$52,170
Per Capita Income
Fremont
$73,378
Fremont +
Lansing
$29,894
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Fremont
$77,230
Fremont +
Lansing
$58,052
Unemployment Rate
Fremont
4.3%
Fremont +
Lansing
8.1%
Poverty Rate
Fremont
5.1%
Fremont +
Lansing
19.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
Fremont
62.7%
Fremont +
Lansing
29.6%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Fremont
$1,538,830
Lansing
$166,132
Lansing +
Homeownership Rate
Fremont
60.2%
Fremont +
Lansing
53.9%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fremont
503
Lansing
471
Lansing +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fremont
2388
Lansing
1590
Lansing +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Fremont
17.3%
Fremont +
Lansing
39.9%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Fremont
9.8%
Fremont +
Lansing
12.4%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Fremont
12.7%
Fremont +
Lansing
19.6%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Fremont
4.9%
Fremont +
Lansing
9.3%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Fremont
13.9%
Fremont +
Lansing
16.4%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Fremont
7.3%
Fremont +
Lansing
16.8%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Fremont
59.6°F
Lansing
48.8°F
Lansing +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Fremont
16.7 in
Fremont +
Lansing
32.2 in

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Fremont
33.9 min
Lansing
21.2 min
Lansing +

Which City is Right for You?

Fremont leads in median household income at $176,350, while lansing offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $166,132. On public safety, Lansing is safer with a violent crime rate of 471 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 Fremont & Lansing