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Are you moving to San Jose?
San Jose sits in the heart of Silicon Valley. The largest city in Northern California is also one of the most prosperous in the US. San Jose is a notable center of innovation. One of the fastest-growing cities, San Jose attracts a large inflow of population from different parts of the country.
Do you have a plan to move to San Jose? It is important to know the city in detail – climate, jobs, transport, housing, living cost, schools, and much more. Our San Jose moving guide covers the city in and out and helps you make the final call.
Let’s get started.
Quick facts about San Jose, CA
- San Jose is considered as one of the best places to live in California.
- The city is a center of innovation and an affluent tech hub.
- San Jose is super dog-friendly.
- San Jose has the largest number of Vietnamese living in the city, more than anywhere outside Vietnam.
- San Jose is greatly influenced by Spanish culture as it was under Mexico till 1848.
What’s the weather like in San Jose, CA?
San Jose has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate with warm to hot, dry summers and mild to cool, wet winters. The city experiences an average of 301 days of sunshine and an annual mean temperature of 60.5 °F.
On the coldest nights of the year, the temperature generally drops to around freezing, while during the day it remains around 50 °F.
Tip: When you’ve got a home to move in San Jose, CA, getting the best moving quote will be your goal. Request moving company quotes to save on moving cost.
The wet season runs from November through March. About 82% of the yearly precipitation total falls within this period. Wet seasons are cool, but mild. Dry season weather is very consistent, with warm sunny days.
What is the population of San Jose?
San Jose is the third most populous city in California and the 10th most populous in the US. As of 2020, the city has a population of 1,013,240, with a density of 5,684.69/sq mi. As you are serious about moving to San Jose, it is important to know the demographic breakdown in the city.
- San Jose’s population is 984,299, 3rd largest city in California, 10th largest in the U.S.
- Median Age is 35.6 years
- The population has recently recorded a slight decline.
- About 0.8% of the population are same-sex married couples or partnerships.
- For every 100 females, there were 101.1 males.
- The median income for a family was $86,822, one of the highest in the US.
Transportation in San Jose, CA
The average one-way commute time in San Jose is 29.4 minutes, which is longer than the US average of 26.4 minutes.
San Jose is highly automobile-dependent with about 76% of the residents driving to the office every day. And traffic is a major concern in San Jose. However, serious efforts are in the pipeline to make people shift to public transport, including light trains and buses.
How people in San Jose get to work:
- 75.9% drive their own car alone
- 11.7% carpool with others
- 4.1% work from home
- 4.5% take mass transit
Top 10 reasons to move to San Jose, CA
When you think about moving to San Jose, you may love to know the reasons that prompt thousands of people to relocate to the city. From climate to outdoor recreation, there are many.
To help you, we’ve compiled 10 reasons that make you know why San Jose is a sought-after city
- Unlimited outdoor activities
- San Jose is dog-friendly
- Eclectic food scene
- Strong sports culture
- It is a tech hub
- The city is safe
- Vietnamese and Japanese cuisines are everywhere
- Beautiful neighborhoods
- It is always sunny
- Good schools
Pros and cons of living in San Jose, CA
San Jose boasts of good job opportunities and a better climate. But are they enough to make a final call? To help you make the final decision, we’ve got both pros and cons of living in San Jose. Gage them to understand whether the Capital of Silicon Valley is your new home.
| The Pros | The Cons |
| Booming IT industry | San Jose is a costly city |
| More job opportunities | Heavy traffic |
| Pleasant climate | Grocery bags are charged extra |
| Great food scene | Commuting time is longer |
| Low crime rate | Always noisy |
| Dog friendly |
Cost of living in San Jose, CA
Your decision to move to San Jose would naturally be greatly influenced by the cost of living. And you may not be happy to know San Jose is highly expensive. The cost of living in San Jose is 214.5 based on the US average of 100.
Here’s a breakdown of the cost of living in San Jose.
| Cost of living | San Jose | California | USA |
| Overall | 214.5 | 149.9 | 100 |
| Grocery | 113.7 | 105.1 | 100 |
| Health | 100.5 | 92.4 | 100 |
| Housing | 433.9 | 239.1 | 100 |
| Median home cost | $1,249,900 | $684,800 | $291,700 |
| Utilities | 96.8 | 102.4 | 100 |
| Transportation | 151 | 133.1 | 100 |
| Miscellaneous | 104.8 | 103.7 | 100 |
Housing cost in San Jose, CA
If you’re considering buying a home before or after moving to San Jose, you need to have a fat bank balance as the house costs are extremely high. The median home cost in San Jose is $1,249,900, much higher than the national average.
Here’s a quick snapshot of San Jose’s housing information.
- The median home cost in San Jose is $1,249,900. The US average is $291,700.
- The price per square meter at City Centre is $5,400
- The price per square meter outside City is $4,700
Home rental in San Jose, CA
When you don’t have a plan to buy a home, renting a home is the next best option. Here is a summary of home rentals in San Jose.
- The average monthly rent in San Jose is $3,051.
- The rental in San Jose is the highest in the US.
- A Studio apartment is $1,942. The U.S. average is $949.
- A 1-bedroom apartment is $2,189. The U.S. average is $1,048.
- A 2-bedroom apartment is $2,597. The U.S. average is $1,278.
- A 3-bedroom apartment is $3,338. The U.S. average is $1,681.
- A 4-bedroom apartment is $3,815. The U.S. average is $1,950.
Jobs in San Jose, CA
As San Jose is a booming tech hub, it is natural to expect a job within just a few days of your arrival. But is it that easy? Let us see the job prospects in San Jose.
Silicon Valley, an area in San Jose has the largest concentration of high-technology engineering, computer, and microprocessor companies in the world. About 35% of all venture capital funds in the U.S. are invested in San Jose and Silicon Valley companies and the city has the highest median income of any US city with over 280,000 people.
Here are a few facts about jobs in San Jose.
- The unemployment rate in San Jose is 4.6%.
- The minimum wage in San Jose is $15.45 per hour.
- The median household income in San Jose is $109,593.
- The poverty rate in San Jose is 8.72%.
Here’s a list of top employers in San Jose.
| No. | Company | No of employees |
| 1 | County of Santa Clara | 18,570 |
| 2 | Cisco Systems | 9,500 |
| 3 | San Jose State University | 3,600 |
| 4 | eBay | 3,400 |
| 5 | PayPal | 3,300 |
| 6 | Adobe Systems, Inc. | 2,900 |
| 7 | Kaiser Permanente | 2,585 |
| 8 | Target Stores | 2,400 |
| 9 | Good Samaritan Hospital | 2,240 |
| 10 | Western Digital | 2,200 |
Best things to do in San Jose, CA
- Visit Winchester Mystery House
- Explore Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum
- Tour San Jose Museum of Art
- Visit Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph
- Explore Tech Museum of Innovation
- Take a walk at Alum Rock Park
- Take your child to Children’s Discovery Museum
- Enjoy nature at Kelley Park
- Feel the nature at Municipal Rose Garden
- Explore Downtown San Jose
- Shop and dine at Santana Row
- Visit Happy Hollow Park & Zoo
- Take a tour of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens
- Visit Mission Santa Clara de Asís
- Explore Los Gatos Creek Trail
- Visit Japantown
- Spend time at Japanese Friendship Garden
Best neighborhoods in San Jose, CA
Moving to San Jose, living in one of the best and safe neighborhoods would be your priority. Realizing this, we’ve compiled data using studies conducted by HomeSnacks to determine the best neighborhoods in San Jose.
These are the 10 best neighborhoods in San Jose, CA.
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Medium home price | Median home income |
| 1 | West San Jose | 99,862 | $850,944 | $107,156 |
| 2 | Almaden Valley | 41,132 | $954,719 | $147,988 |
| 3 | Cambrian Park | 71,889 | $764,122 | $111,931 |
| 4 | Blossom Valley | 70,687 | $582,520 | $99,767 |
| 5 | Willow Glen | 74,025 | $776,100 | $104,625 |
| 6 | Berryessa | 34,515 | $646,752 | $102,953 |
| 7 | Evergreen | 76,963 | $758,112 | $128,820 |
| 8 | Santa Teresa | 55,095 | $620,835 | $115,527 |
| 9 | Rose Garden | 13,514 | $728,821 | $95,382 |
| 10 | North Valley | 78,071 | $499,085 | $78,557 |
How safe is living in San Jose, CA?
Crime rate is a vital factor that you may consider while moving to a new city. As you are serious about moving to San Jose, you may be curious to know how safe the Capital of Silicon Valley is.
San Jose is safer than many big US cities as crime rates are declining over the years.
Here are a few facts about crime in San Jose.
- San Jose is safer than 15% of US cities.
- The crime rate in San Jose is 15% higher than the US average.
- The violent crime rate is 16% higher than the national average.
- The property crime rate is 15% higher than the national average.
- Your chance of being a violent crime victim is 1 in 221. This is 1 in 227 in California.
Top schools in San Jose, CA
San Jose has some of the top-rated schools across the United States from elementary to college. We’ve compiled the best schools in the city using data from Niche and Great Schools.
Best Middle Schools in San Jose
- University Preparatory Academy Charter – Canoas Garden Avenue, Public, 7-12 | 684 students
- Cornerstone Academy Preparatory School – Lucretia Ave, Public, K-8 | 543 students
- Joaquin Miller Middle – Rainbow Drive, Public, 6-8 | 1,191 students
- Union Middle – Los Gatos Almaden Road, Public, 6-8 | 1,053 students
- KIPP Heartwood Academy – South King Road, Public, 5-8 | 415 students
Best Elementary Schools in San Jose
- Northwood Elementary – Trimble Road, Public, K-5 | 574 students
- Forest Hill Elementary – McCoy Avenue, Public, K-5 | 657 students
- Nelson S. Dilworth Elementary – Strayer Drive, Public, K-5 | 435 students
- John Muir Elementary – Hanover Drive, Public, K-5 | 354 students
- Silver Oak Elementary – Farnsworth Drive, Public, K-6 | 607 students
Best high schools in San Jose
- Lynbrook High – Johnson Avenue, Public, 9-12 | 1,880 students
- Evergreen Valley High – Quimby Road, Public, 9-12 | 2,961 students
- KIPP San Jose Collegiate – Educational Park Drive, Public, 9-12 | 530 students
- Piedmont Hills High – Piedmont Road, Public, 9-12 | 1,802 students
- Branham High – Branham Lane, Public, 9-12 | 1,802 students
Best colleges and universities in San Jose
- San Jose State University
- San Jose City College
- De Anza College
- Evergreen Valley College
- West Valley College
