San Jose, California
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching San Jose.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in San Jose?
For relocators asking how much San Jose costs: the housing index sits at 293 versus 100 nationally, with homes near $1,187,800 and rents near $2,617. Local median income is about $141,565 and unemployment recently ran 4.1% (U.S. 4.2%). Commutes average 29 minutes. Violent-offense rates run about 438.4 per 100k (catalog avg 586.6).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 293U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $1,187,800U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $2,617U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $141,565U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 4.1%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 29 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 438.4per 100k · avg 586.6
- Summer high
- 80°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how San Jose compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 997,368City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $141,565Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year80% above U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 293ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year193% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $1,187,800City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year291% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $2,617City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year94% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.1%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts - Avg commute
- 29 min16% above U.S. avgU.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 5113% above U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- 438.4annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)25% below U.S. avgU.S. 586.6 - Property crime rate
- 2419.6annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)22% below U.S. avgU.S. 3087.9 - Summer high
- 80°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals7.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 42°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals8.0°F above U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 13.5 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals59% below U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
- Sunny days
- 306As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals14% above U.S. avgU.S. 268
Population trend
San Jose grew 4.4% from 954,940 in 2010 to 997,368 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is San Jose expensive compared to the U.S. average?
San Jose's housing cost index is 293 versus 100 nationally — well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($1,187,800 vs $303,400) and rents ($2,617 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 293 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $1,187,800 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $2,617 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in San Jose?
Typical ownership costs center near $1,187,800, while median gross rent is about $2,617 a month. Against a median household income of $141,565, rent alone is roughly 22% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $1,187,800
- Median rent $2,617/month
- Median household income $141,565
What is the job market like in San Jose?
County unemployment recently ran 4.1% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in San Jose is about $141,565 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 4.1% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $141,565
How long is the typical commute in San Jose?
Average one-way commute time is about 29 minutes, with Walk Score near 51/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 29 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 51/100
Is San Jose safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 438.4 per 100k and property about 2419.6 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 586.6 and 3087.9. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 438.4 per 100k
- Property 2419.6 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in San Jose?
Normals show summer highs near 80°F, winter lows near 42°F, about 13.5 inches of rain, and roughly 306 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 80°F
- Winter low 42°F
- 13.5 in rain · 306 sunny days
Which neighborhoods do relocators research in San Jose?
Newcomers often start with Downtown, Willow Glen, Japantown — tour at commute hour before signing. Neighborhood lists are curated research starting points, not rankings.
- Downtown
- Willow Glen
- Japantown
San Jose, California counts about 997,368 residents inside the city limits. Households here report a median income near $141,565; our housing-derived cost index is about 293 (well above the national housing-cost baseline). Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $1,187,800 push many newcomers toward renting first.
Pacific weather, wildfire seasons, and housing scarcity dominate relocation tradeoffs. Roughly 306 sunny days a year give outdoor routines unusual calendar reliability. Commutes average near 29 minutes one-way, with walkability near 51/100. BLS LAUS puts recent unemployment around 4.1% for the surrounding county. Violent-offense rates near 438.4 per 100k sit in a mid-to-elevated band versus many peer cities in this catalog.
Ask locals about Downtown versus Willow Glen — those two pockets illustrate how different daily life can feel inside the same city limits, with Japantown as a common third option. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare San Jose with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Neighborhoods often researched
- Downtown
- Willow Glen
- Japantown
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (San Jose city, 1600000US0668000) — As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Santa Clara County, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019) city offenses known to law enforcement — rates per 100k; CDE API unavailable at enrich time — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00023293 SAN JOSE) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10