San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara vs San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
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 Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,969,337 | 4,645,029 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $162,111 | $136,027 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $79,109 | $74,352 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 735/sq mi | 1,881/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $1,447,800 | $1,140,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,840 | $2,474 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 55.5% | 55.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.6% | -1.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 55.5% | 52.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.1% | 8.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 7,788 | 8,350 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.0 | 1.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 126.1% | 29.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 71°F | 72°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 42°F | 42°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 12.6" | 18.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 44 mi | 5 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.8 min | 33.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.0 | 40.3 | 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 Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Your best match
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Full profiles: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA Metro Area · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology