San Jose, California
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching San Jose, CA.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in San Jose, CA?
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 559.5).
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 · catalog avg 559.5
- Summer high
- 80°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how San Jose compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (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 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $141,565Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year80% above U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 293ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year193% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $1,187,800City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year291% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $2,617City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year94% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.1%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026Near U.S. rate (4.2%)U.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 29 min16% above catalog avgCatalog avg 25 min
- Walk Score
- 5113% above catalog avgCatalog avg 45
- Violent crime rate
- 438.4per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)22% below catalog avgCatalog avg 559.5 - Property crime rate
- 2419.6per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)19% below catalog avgCatalog avg 3005.3 - Summer high
- 80°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals7.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 42°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals7.0 pts above catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 13.5 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals59% below catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 306As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals14% above catalog avgCatalog avg 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, CA 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, CA?
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, CA?
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, CA?
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, CA 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 559.5 and 3005.3. 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, CA?
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, CA?
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 figures, 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 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Santa Clara County, July 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019), city offenses per 100k — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00023293 SAN JOSE) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19