Living in San Jose, CA
Big city in California
San Jose is a big city in California, home to about 990,000 people, with 3.4 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, much of daily life is walkable. Life moves at a fast pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
Is San Jose a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Strong healthcare: 7 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Easy flying: SJC is 5 mi away
- Sunny: more sunshine and clearer skies than most places
- Mild summers: highs around 82°F
👎 Cons
- Pricey housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $1.29M, and rent is $4,600 a month
- Higher taxes: about $3,279 state income tax per resident, 0.77% property tax
- Few dog parks: 54 within 9 mi
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how San Jose ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in San Jose: common questions
What is the cost of living in San Jose?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $1.29M, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $4,600 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 110, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in San Jose?
California collects about $3,279 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.77% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is San Jose safe?
Violent crime is somewhat above the national rate (1.2× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in San Jose?
San Jose has mild winters: winter days average around 60°F and summer days around 82°F.
Does San Jose get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from earthquakes and flooding: 5 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 1.47 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to San Jose?
The nearest major airport is SJC, about 5 mi away.
How San Jose scores
Each bar compares San Jose with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is San Jose right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.