Fremont CA vs Virginia Beach VA — 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%

Virginia Beach, VA

Virginia · Population: 457,066

  • Median HH Income$90,685
  • Median Home Price$427,121
  • Unemployment4.3%
  • Bachelor's+40.4%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Fremont
228,518
Virginia Beach
457,066
Virginia Beach +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Fremont
N/A
Virginia Beach
N/A
Median Age
Fremont
38.8
Virginia Beach
37.4
Virginia Beach +
Foreign Born
Fremont
50.1%
Fremont +
Virginia Beach
9.1%
White
Fremont
19.4%
Virginia Beach
61.6%
Virginia Beach +
Black
Fremont
2.9%
Virginia Beach
18.9%
Virginia Beach +
Asian
Fremont
62.5%
Fremont +
Virginia Beach
7.2%
Hispanic
Fremont
12.9%
Fremont +
Virginia Beach
8.9%
Spanish at Home
Fremont
N/A
Virginia Beach
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Fremont
$176,350
Fremont +
Virginia Beach
$90,685
Per Capita Income
Fremont
$73,378
Fremont +
Virginia Beach
$47,372
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Fremont
$77,230
Fremont +
Virginia Beach
$69,581
Unemployment Rate
Fremont
4.3%
Virginia Beach
4.3%
Virginia Beach +
Poverty Rate
Fremont
5.1%
Fremont +
Virginia Beach
8.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
Fremont
62.7%
Fremont +
Virginia Beach
40.4%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Fremont
$1,538,830
Virginia Beach
$427,121
Virginia Beach +
Homeownership Rate
Fremont
60.2%
Virginia Beach
64.9%
Virginia Beach +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fremont
503
Virginia Beach
240
Virginia Beach +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fremont
2388
Virginia Beach
1726
Virginia Beach +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Fremont
17.3%
Fremont +
Virginia Beach
36.5%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Fremont
9.8%
Fremont +
Virginia Beach
11.8%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Fremont
12.7%
Fremont +
Virginia Beach
16.7%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Fremont
4.9%
Fremont +
Virginia Beach
8.3%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Fremont
13.9%
Fremont +
Virginia Beach
15.6%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Fremont
7.3%
Fremont +
Virginia Beach
12.1%

Climate

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

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Fremont
33.9 min
Virginia Beach
25.0 min
Virginia Beach +

Which City is Right for You?

Fremont leads in median household income at $176,350, while virginia Beach offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $427,121. On public safety, Virginia Beach is safer with a violent crime rate of 240 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Fremont. Virginia Beach 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 & Virginia Beach