Fremont CA vs Saint Paul MN — 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%

Saint Paul, MN

Minnesota · Population: 307,762

  • Median HH Income$73,055
  • Median Home Price$297,021
  • Unemployment4.9%
  • Bachelor's+43.5%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Fremont
228,518
Saint Paul
307,762
Saint Paul +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Fremont
N/A
Saint Paul
N/A
Median Age
Fremont
38.8
Saint Paul
33.5
Saint Paul +
Foreign Born
Fremont
50.1%
Fremont +
Saint Paul
18.7%
White
Fremont
19.4%
Saint Paul
53.2%
Saint Paul +
Black
Fremont
2.9%
Saint Paul
16.2%
Saint Paul +
Asian
Fremont
62.5%
Fremont +
Saint Paul
17.9%
Hispanic
Fremont
12.9%
Fremont +
Saint Paul
9.1%
Spanish at Home
Fremont
N/A
Saint Paul
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Fremont
$176,350
Fremont +
Saint Paul
$73,055
Per Capita Income
Fremont
$73,378
Fremont +
Saint Paul
$41,594
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Fremont
$77,230
Fremont +
Saint Paul
$69,467
Unemployment Rate
Fremont
4.3%
Fremont +
Saint Paul
4.9%
Poverty Rate
Fremont
5.1%
Fremont +
Saint Paul
15.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
Fremont
62.7%
Fremont +
Saint Paul
43.5%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Fremont
$1,538,830
Saint Paul
$297,021
Saint Paul +
Homeownership Rate
Fremont
60.2%
Fremont +
Saint Paul
53.2%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fremont
503
Saint Paul
284
Saint Paul +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fremont
2388
Saint Paul
1992
Saint Paul +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Fremont
17.3%
Saint Paul
N/A
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Fremont
9.8%
Saint Paul
N/A
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Fremont
12.7%
Saint Paul
N/A
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Fremont
4.9%
Saint Paul
N/A
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Fremont
13.9%
Saint Paul
N/A
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Fremont
7.3%
Saint Paul
N/A

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Fremont
59.6°F
Saint Paul
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Fremont
16.7 in
Saint Paul
N/A

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Fremont
7.9 µg/m³
Fremont +
Saint Paul
8.1 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Fremont
75.0%
Saint Paul
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Fremont
33.9 min
Saint Paul
24.1 min
Saint Paul +

Which City is Right for You?

Fremont leads in median household income at $176,350, while saint Paul offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $297,021. On public safety, Saint Paul is safer with a violent crime rate of 284 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).

Compare More Cities

About Fremont & Saint Paul