Fremont vs San Ramon

The short version

  • Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
  • The median home costs $1,403,800 in Fremont and $1,509,500 in San Ramon.
  • Households earn more in San Ramon ($196,161 vs $181,506 median).
  • San Ramon has more scorching days: 52 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 12.
  • Commutes are shorter in Fremont (30 vs 35 minutes each way).

Side by side

Fremont, CASan Ramon, CA
People
Population (2025)226,44286,209
Growth since 2020-1.8%-0.3%
People per square mile2,8994,298
Median age39.141.6
Bachelor's degree or higher64%72%
Money and housing
Median household income$181,506$196,161
Median home value$1,403,800$1,509,500
Home value to income7.7×7.7×
Median rent (with utilities)$2,933$2,968
Metro price level (US = 100)115.6115.6
Housing price level (US = 100)194.7194.7
$75,000 elsewhere equals$86,700$86,700
Homeowners61%71%
Top state income tax13.3%13.3%
Combined sales tax9.03%9.03%
Work and commute
Average commute (minutes)30.334.7
Work from home32%34%
Take public transit4%3%
Unemployment (2020-24 avg)4.7%5.2%
Poverty rate5.2%4.4%
Weather
January high / low59° / 43°57° / 38°
July high / low78° / 57°88° / 57°
Precipitation per year16 in15 in
Snowfall per year0 in0 in
Days 90°F or hotter1252
Nights below freezing320
Comfortable months95
Risks, air and home prices
Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county)Very HighVery High
FEMA risk score (lower is safer)99.899.5
Good air days, 2025n/an/a
Home prices, past year-4.8%-4.8%
Home prices, past 5 years+8.2%+8.2%

Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.

Weather, month by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Fremont San Ramon. Solid lines are average highs, dashed lines average lows (°F), NOAA 1991-2020 normals.

Most comfortable months: Fremont: March to November. San Ramon: April to June and September to October.

Full monthly tables: Fremont weather by month and San Ramon weather by month.

What $75,000 is worth

A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $86,700 in Fremont and $86,700 in San Ramon. Moving from Fremont to San Ramon, you would need about $75,000 to match a $75,000 salary.

Try your own salary

Moving between Fremont and San Ramon

12,831people moved from Alameda County, CA to Contra Costa County, CA in a year
7,605moved the other way

IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years, for the counties that contain each city. See where else people move from Fremont and San Ramon.

Which would you pick?

One vote per person. Results show after you vote.

Compare something else

vs