Central Contra Costa and Fremont are both attractive Californian cities with their own unique offerings. While Central Contra Costa offers a suburban feel with a higher cost of living, Fremont is more affordable with a dense suburban atmosphere and a strong educational focus. Considerations in your decision between the two may include factors such as your budget, lifestyle requirements and personal preferences. Each offers a unique way of life, with the following differences and similarities.
Both Central Contra Costa and Fremont have a lower crime rate compared to the US average. However, Fremont is considered one of the safest large cities in California, with a crime rate significantly lower than the state average. Central Contra Costa is safer than 50% of US cities, but Fremont stands out for its security efforts.
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Central Contra Costa is significantly higher than Fremont. Everything from housing to grocery costs is higher in Central Contra Costa. The cost of living index in Central Contra Costa is 270.5, compared to 204.8 in Fremont.
Income Tax
For income tax, California’s state rate is 13.3% which is applied to both Central Contra Costa and Fremont. There are no city-level income taxes.
Property Tax
Statewide, California has a relatively low property tax rate of around 0.73%. However, the median home cost in both cities is much higher than the national average, resulting in substantial tax bills for homeowners in Central Contra Costa and Fremont.
Sales Tax
Both Central Contra Costa and Fremont have similar sales tax rates. Central Contra Costa's sales tax rate is 8.25% while Fremont's sales tax rate falls at 9.25%, both slightly higher than the national average.
Income
Type
Central Contra Costa
Fremont
Estimated median household income
$127,452
$155,968
Estimated per capita income
$68,702
$64,320
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
139.1
124.5
If you make $50,000 in Fremont, you will have to make $55,863 in Central Contra Costa to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
Fremont is one of the Bay Area cities located close to the Pacific Ocean, providing mild coastal climate conditions. Central Contra Costa, to the east of San Francisco, features hilly terrain with a varied landscape of forests, grasslands, and more urban developments.
Geographical information
Type
Central Contra Costa
Fremont
Land area
261.3 sq. miles
76.7 sq. miles
Population density
1,863.4 people per sq. mile
2,966.6 people per sq. mile
Relative area comparison
Central Contra Costa, CA Fremont, CA
Education
Fremont stands out with its highly rated public schools, several of which are nationally recognized. Central Contra Costa also has good schools, but the student-to-teacher ratio is lower in Fremont, making it an appealing choice for families. Both cities have a highly educated workforce; however, Fremont has a higher percentage of residents with a bachelor's degree or higher.
Both Central Contra Costa and Fremont have strong economies. Fremont is part of Silicon Valley and its economy is driven by tech industries. Central Contra Costa has a diverse economy, with healthcare, retail, and manufacturing being main economic sectors. Fremont has a lower unemployment rate compared to Central Contra Costa.
Biggest Employers
In Central Contra Costa, the biggest employers include Kaiser Permanente, John Muir Health, and AT&T. In Fremont, Tesla is the largest employer, followed by technology companies like Lam Research and Western Digital.
In Central Contra Costa (Contra Costa County), 66.2% voted for Democrats and 31.1% for Republicans in 2012 Presidential Election. In Fremont (Alameda County), 78.9% voted for Democrats and 18.2% for Republicans.
Elections
Type
Democrats
Republicans
Other
Year
Central Contra Costa
Fremont
Central Contra Costa
Fremont
Central Contra Costa
Fremont
2020
71.8%
79.8%
26.4%
17.6%
1.8%
2.6%
2016
67.5%
78.2%
24.5%
14.6%
8.0%
7.2%
2012
66.2%
78.9%
31.1%
18.2%
2.7%
3.0%
2008
68.0%
78.8%
30.2%
19.3%
1.8%
2.0%
2004
62.6%
75.5%
36.7%
23.4%
0.7%
1.1%
2000
59.0%
69.6%
37.2%
24.2%
3.8%
6.2%
1996
55.7%
65.8%
35.2%
23.1%
9.1%
11.2%
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregation
Type
Adherents
Congregations
Religion
Central Contra Costa
Fremont
Central Contra Costa
Fremont
CATHOLIC CHURCH
21.8%
15.3%
5.2%
4.9%
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
1.3%
1.5%
10.0%
10.9%
MUSLIM ESTIMATE
1.0%
2.0%
1.4%
2.5%
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
0.5%
0.3%
2.3%
1.7%
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
0.5%
0.3%
2.0%
2.3%
AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES IN THE USA
0.3%
0.5%
2.6%
2.5%
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
0.3%
0.3%
1.5%
1.4%
Weather
Both cities experience the typical Mediterranean climate of California, with mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. Fremont is warmer on average, while Central Contra Costa experiences cooler summers and winters. Both locations offer pleasant weather for outdoor activities throughout the year, although Fremont may be more comfortable for those who prefer higher temperatures.
Weather and climate
Type
Central Contra Costa
Fremont
Temperature - Average
59.1°F
60°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
82.2%
81.4%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
29.3%
29.9%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
88.1%
87.6%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
58.8%
57.7%
Precipitation - Yearly average
21.8 in
14.9 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
0 in
0 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
27.7%
27%
Sunshine amount - Average
73.3%
73.2%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
22.4%
22.3%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
77.2%
77.1%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
54.7%
54.8%
Wind speed - Average
11.1 mph
11 mph
Average climate in Central Contra Costa, California
Average climate in Fremont, California
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PB
PM25
SO2
Year
Central Contra Costa
Fremont
Central Contra Costa
Fremont
Central Contra Costa
Fremont
Central Contra Costa
Fremont
Central Contra Costa
Fremont
Central Contra Costa
Fremont
Central Contra Costa
Fremont
2018
105
101
0.32
0.47
6.9
12.5
22.1
25.7
0.012
0.006
13.3
12.3
0.6
0.3
2017
102
101
0.30
0.45
7.0
11.9
25.9
25.0
0.008
0.004
11.9
9.8
0.7
0.3
2016
86
94
0.28
0.41
6.5
11.0
25.2
24.2
0.005
0.003
6.5
8.2
0.8
0.4
2015
94
96
0.34
0.45
7.6
12.5
25.8
24.1
0.004
0.004
8.8
8.4
0.5
0.4
2014
95
93
0.35
0.40
7.8
12.2
25.2
23.4
0.005
0.004
6.9
8.0
0.5
0.3
2013
93
98
0.34
0.41
9.3
12.3
21.5
21.7
0.004
0.004
7.8
10.4
0.5
0.4
2012
93
85
0.32
0.38
8.5
10.9
25.2
22.9
0.003
0.002
8.3
8.3
0.3
0.7
2011
99
93
0.35
0.39
9.0
12.0
23.0
22.7
0.003
0.002
9.8
10.0
0.6
0.7
2010
93
92
0.31
0.38
8.6
12.2
23.2
19.9
0.014
0.002
8.5
8.7
0.5
0.5
2009
104
98
0.31
0.38
9.5
13.0
23.7
20.3
0.006
0.004
10.3
9.6
0.6
0.6
2008
120
112
0.36
0.44
10.2
14.0
26.1
21.4
0.006
N/A
12.1
10.8
0.8
N/A
2007
104
102
0.36
0.44
10.7
14.2
24.1
20.7
0.006
0.007
9.7
9.8
0.7
N/A
2006
109
109
0.39
0.51
10.9
15.3
26.0
21.6
N/A
N/A
11.1
10.5
0.8
N/A
2005
104
104
0.43
0.46
11.6
15.4
22.7
19.7
N/A
N/A
10.4
11.5
1.0
N/A
2004
112
109
0.46
0.39
12.4
15.1
22.6
20.5
0.004
N/A
11.9
10.9
1.1
N/A
2003
84
90
0.51
0.44
13.4
17.0
23.1
21.3
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
0.7
N/A
2002
88
90
0.51
0.54
14.7
19.3
23.3
20.5
0.008
0.005
N/A
N/A
0.9
1.6
2001
90
87
0.56
0.54
15.4
19.4
22.1
19.6
0.008
0.005
N/A
N/A
1.2
N/A
2000
95
89
0.67
0.56
15.9
19.6
20.8
18.1
0.013
0.005
N/A
N/A
1.6
N/A
Natural disasters
Type
Central Contra Costa
Fremont
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
9.4%
9.5%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
7,786.2%
7,767.1%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
18%
20%
Transportation
In terms of public transportation, both cities offer good accessibility with bus and rail services. Fremont is served by the BART system, making travel to San Francisco and other Bay Area cities easy. Similarly, Contra Costa is well connected via BART and several bus services. As for commuting, average commute times are slightly higher in Central Contra Costa.
Transport
Type
Central Contra Costa
Fremont
Amtrak stations
0
1
Amtrak stations nearby
3
3
FAA registered aircraft
0
54
FAA registered aircraft manufacturers and dealers
0
2
Means of transportation to work
Type
Central Contra Costa
Fremont
Bicycle
0.5%
1.5%
Bus
1%
3.6%
Carpooled
9.9%
11.2%
Car alone
72.3%
79.7%
Motorcycle
0.2%
0.3%
Railroad
0.8%
0.7%
Streetcar
0.1%
0.3%
Subway
7.7%
0.6%
Taxicab
0.1%
0.1%
Walked
1.5%
1%
Average travel time to work
Type
Central Contra Costa
Fremont
Average
31.8 min
35.4 min
Real Estate
In terms of real estate, Central Contra Costa has a high median home value compared to Fremont. Central Contra Costa is known for its luxurious homes, while Fremont is populated with more modest suburban homes. Renting in either city can be expensive, but it is notably higher in Central Contra Costa.
Neighborhoods
Central Contra Costa boasts swanky neighborhoods like Walnut Creek and Lamorinda. Fremont, known for its planned communities, features distinct districts like Centerville, Niles, and Irvington. Both cities offer options for a family-friendly, suburban lifestyle.
Houses and residents
Type
Central Contra Costa
Fremont
Houses
183,777
79,480
Average household size (people)
2.5
3
Houses occupied
179,136 (97.5%)
75,716 (95.3%)
Houses occupied by owners
127,889 (71.4%)
46,436 (61.3%)
Houses occupied by renters
51,247 (28.6%)
29,280 (38.7%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$2,527
$3,296
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$1,269,474
$1,442,729
Estimated median house or condo value
Over $1,000,000
Over $1,000,000
Median number of rooms in apartments
4.3
3.4
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
6.5
5.9
Renting percentage
30.3%
37.4%
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
703.4
1,036.4
Household income disparities
35.9%
33.8%
Housing units without a mortgage
20,208 (18.2%)
500 (1.5%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
418 (0.4%)
2,014 (6.2%)
Housing units with a mortgage
90,899 (81.8%)
32,079 (98.5%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
13,612 (12.3%)
169 (0.5%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
13,614 (12.3%)
2,762 (8.5%)
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
0.5%
1.3%
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business
22,217
5,630
State government workers
6,705
2,311
Unpaid family workers
617
0
Industries and Occupations
In Fremont, the major industries are technology, manufacturing, and healthcare, with a large number of professionals working in these sectors. Central Contra Costa has a diverse economy with major industries including health care, retail trade, and professional, scientific, and technical services. Both cities have high employment rates.
Both Central Contra Costa and Fremont offer excellent healthcare facilities. Central Contra Costa is home to the John Muir Medical Center, named one of the top hospitals in the nation, whereas Fremont boasts the Washington Hospital, known for its high-quality care.
Health (county statistics)
Type
Central Contra Costa
Fremont
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)
Both Central Contra Costa and Fremont are well-developed cities with good infrastructure. Central Contra Costa is known for its elegant, upscale homes and shopping centers, while Fremont is recognized for its well-planned suburbs. Both offer reliable public services and facilities.
Infrastructure
Type
Central Contra Costa
Fremont
TV stations
24
24
Culture and Food
Both Central Contra Costa and Fremont offer diverse, thriving culinary scenes with a range of cuisines from around the world. Regarding cultural offering, while Fremont hosts several cultural and community events throughout the year, Central Contra Costa is recognized for its refined cultural scene inclusive of art galleries, music festivals, and wine tastings.
Sports Teams
Both cities are close to major sports hubs, including Oakland and San Francisco, hosting teams like the Golden State Warriors, San Francisco 49ers, and Oakland Athletics. However, neither city has its own major league sports team.
Central Contra Costa, CA
Fremont, CA
