Rent vs buy in Fremont, CA
In Fremont, California, typical rent is $3,388 /mo and a typical home costs $1,439,805.
Renting comes out ahead by $250k over 7 years
It assumes today's mortgage rate and 20% down, using Fremont's typical rent and home value. Costs balance in year 24.
An opinion, clearly labelled, with the math shown. These figures are estimates, not quotes. Adjust any number, and the stamp will change.
- Rent leads by
- $250k after 7 years
- When costs balance
- year 24 when owning catches up
- Actual cost of ownership
- $11,949 /mo year 1, against $3,388 rent
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Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Fremont?
Over 7 years, renting costs $249,896 less when you include the money returned after you sell. For the first 23 years, renting costs less. By year 24, owning has caught up.
Rent. Own. Net cost by year so far.
Fremont's average rent compared with the mortgage payment
Rent and the mortgage only tell part of it. Here are all the monthly costs, using Fremont's typical price for year 1.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $3,388 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $7,850 | $6,919 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $792 | 0.66% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $98 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $1,200 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $9,940 | $931 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $2,340 | Annual earnings on the cash at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $600 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $11,949 | Cash paid, minus the equity portion, plus the two amounts above |
The figures behind Fremont's result
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $1,439,805
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $3,388 /mo
- Down payment20% avoids private mortgage insurance, which the engine does not model
- 20%
- Mortgage rateFreddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Home price growthFHFA house price index, California, 1995 to 2025
- 5.3% a year
- Rent growthCPI rent of primary residence, yearly growth 2006 to 2026
- 3.5% a year
- Return on savings60% S&P 500 with dividends and 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025
- 8.3% a year
- Property taxCensus ACS 2020-2024, Fremont
- 0.66% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Fremont
- $98 /mo
- MaintenanceFannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- 1% of value a year
- Buying costsFreddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%
- 3.5% of price
- Selling costsAgent commission plus closing costs
- 6% of price
What would flip the result in Fremont?
Each line shows where Fremont's 7-year result changes, with all other factors staying the same.
Renting comes out ahead when
- The calculation uses 5.3%, California's long-run rate, for home-price growth below 7.2% a year.
- A mortgage rate that remains above 4.13% meets the condition.
- A similar home rents for under $6,060 a month (the local typical rent is $3,388).
- Year 24 comes after you move.
When buying wins
- Home prices increase by more than 7.2% a year.
- Locking a mortgage rate below 4.13% meets the condition, and today's rate is 7.24%.
- For the same home, your monthly rent would exceed $6,060.
- You stay for 24 years or longer.
How Fremont compares with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Fremont | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $1,439,805 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $3,388 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 35.4 (#27 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 5.2% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 3.5% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.66% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 39% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More California cities
- Rent. Renting wins by $111k. Los Angeles, CA.
- Rent. Renting wins by $108k. San Diego, CA.
- Rent. Renting wins by $210k. San Jose, CA.
- Rent. Renting wins by $128k. San Francisco, CA.
- Buy. Buying wins by $22k. Fresno, CA.
- Toss-up. Renting ahead by $3k. Sacramento, CA.
- Rent. Renting wins by $111k. Long Beach, CA.
- Rent. Renting wins by $44k. Oakland, CA.
- Buy. Buying wins by $11k. Bakersfield, CA.
- Rent. Renting wins by $115k. Anaheim, CA.
- Buy. Buying wins by $16k. Stockton, CA.
- Rent. Renting wins by $27k. Riverside, CA.