2027 MNM LIVABILITY INDEX

Fremont

California (CA)
Best for: High-income tech households seeking strong schools and central access to Silicon Valley and the East Bay
Fremont CA 2027 livability
Medium City
2027 CITY CLASSMedium City100,000–299,999 residents
Modern Livability78.5/ 100
AT A GLANCE

Everyday numbers

Population226,442
Median Home$1,350,000
Median Rent$2,900
Median Household Income$171,000
Cost of Living~160.0 (US=100; 2024 city/metro estimate)
Average Commute34.0 min
Unemployment~4.2% metro (2026)
Metro AreaSan Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
2027 MODERN LIVABILITY SCORECARD

How this city actually lives

Twelve dimensions capture both hard data and the everyday experience traditional lists tend to miss.

78.5overall
Housing & Financial Reality20.0

Housing burden, taxes, insurance, utilities and what local incomes actually buy.

Ease of Living58.0

Errands, commute friction, parking, services and the effort required for daily life.

Safety & Stability86.0

Personal, neighborhood, road and environmental stability.

Economic Opportunity100.0

Jobs, wages, career mobility, employer diversity and economic resilience.

Health & Wellness90.0

Healthcare access, activity, mental wellness, healthy food and environmental health.

Beauty & Sense of Place84.0

Scenery, architecture, trees, cleanliness, public realm and distinct sense of place.

Mobility & Congestion67.0

Traffic delay, commute reliability, walking, cycling and transit usefulness.

Nature & Escape88.0

Trails, water, mountains, parks, public lands and how easily residents can escape.

Diversity & Belonging92.0

Diversity, integration, accessibility, newcomer friendliness and community connection.

Climate & Environment94.0

Comfortable weather, air quality, severe weather and environmental exposure.

Community & Culture84.0

Restaurants, arts, events, third places, recreation and social life.

Infrastructure & Connectivity94.0

Broadband, utilities, airport, highways, transit and essential connectivity.

THE THINGS OLD-SCHOOL LISTS MISS

What daily life feels like

Traffic / CongestionHigh. Long regional commutes and peak-hour bottlenecks materially affect daily travel; neighborhood and job location make a major difference.
Weekend EscapeExcellent. Strong parks, regional scenery and easy day-trip options make weekend recreation a meaningful advantage.
WalkabilityAbout 50/100 citywide Walk Score. Selected districts are walkable, but many daily errands still require a car.
Airport AccessExceptional regional access. San Jose, Oakland and San Francisco airports provide extensive domestic and international options.
Outdoor AccessExcellent. Parks and nearby regional recreation support frequent outdoor activity and easy weekend escapes.
Healthcare AccessExcellent to exceptional. Major hospital systems, specialty providers and strong regional medical infrastructure support deep access to care.
Air QualityGenerally favorable by large-city standards, though wildfire smoke, traffic emissions or marine conditions can create episodic issues.
Third Places / Social LifeVery good. Restaurants, parks, cafés, community events and local districts provide regular gathering places.
EDITORIAL VIEW

More than a number

Trajectory: Stable
WHY IT STANDS OUT

Why we chose it

Fremont is included in the 2027 MNM Livability Index as the #106 most populous U.S. city in the Census Bureau's 2025 estimates. Its strongest livability advantages are tech access; incomes; schools; diversity; bart; regional parks, while the clearest tradeoffs are extremely high housing cost; traffic; expensive services; limited nightlife. The profile balances housing, everyday ease, safety, opportunity, wellness, beauty, mobility, nature, belonging, climate, culture and infrastructure rather than relying on a single headline metric.

REAL LIFE

What living here actually feels like

Fremont feels prosperous, diverse and suburban-tech oriented, positioned between Silicon Valley and the East Bay with excellent job access.

STRENGTHS

Where it shines

Tech access; incomes; schools; diversity; BART; regional parks.

TRADEOFFS

Where it falls short

Extremely high housing cost; traffic; expensive services; limited nightlife.

ALL 2027 RANKINGS

Where Fremont ranks