Imperial, CA vs San Jose, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Imperial
71.3
#996 nationally
San Jose
63
#1807 nationally
San Jose leads in median household income ($142,891 vs $83,029). Imperial leads in cost of living index (118 vs 198). Imperial leads in average commute (18.1 min vs 28.4 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Imperial, CA | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 71.3 (#996) | 63 (#1807) |
| Population | 21,591 | 983,489 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $445,376 | $1,391,204 |
| Median Household Income | $83,029 | $142,891 |
| Average Commute | 18.1 min | 28.4 min |
| Walk Score | N/A | 51 |
| Crime Level | 2.1 | Moderate |
| School Rating | N/A | 7.2 |
| Cost of Living Index | 118 | 198 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+0.9 | D+40.0 |
Data coverage note: Imperial is missing data for 1 metric that San Jose has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
C-
71.3 Score
Imperial, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$445,376
Population
21,591
Crime
Low
Median Income
$83,029
Pacific
View Imperial, CA →
D
63 Score
San Jose, CA
Capital of Silicon Valley
Median Home
$1,391,204
Population
983,489
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B
Pacific
View San Jose, CA →