San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara vs San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
Which is the better fit for you?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,969,337 | 3,288,774 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $162,111 | $106,268 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $79,109 | $51,976 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 735/sq mi | 781/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $1,447,800 | $854,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,840 | $2,246 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 55.5% | 54.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 4.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.6% | -1.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 55.5% | 43.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.1% | 10.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 7,788 | 10,425 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.0 | 3.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 126.1% | -19.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 71°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 42°F | 37°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 12.6" | 14.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 44 mi | 55 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.8 min | 27.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.0 | 37.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, earthquake.
Your best match
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Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA Metro Area · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology