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California city profile

What Is It Like to Live in San Jose?

What it costs to live in San Jose, and how it compares with other California cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

39

298th best value in California

How much you get for what you pay, versus other California cities.

Overall livability

41

281st overall in California

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

San Jose is home to about 1,013,337 people. A typical home runs $986,700 and a household earns around $125,100, a price-to-income ratio of 7.9. Among California's largest cities, it ranks 298th for value and 281st overall.

San Jose at a glance

Median home price

$986,700

303rd in CA of 406

Median rent

$2,366/mo

Median household income

$125,100

Home price to income

7.9x

Unemployment

4.9%

108th in CA of 406

School rating

10/10

115th in CA of 406

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in CA of 406

Walk score

100/100

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‹ See all top California cities ranked  ยท  California state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within California only. Updated 2026.