Ithaca, NY 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.
San Jose
63
#1807 nationally
San Jose leads in median household income ($142,891 vs $45,468). Ithaca leads in cost of living index (117 vs 198). Ithaca leads in average commute (18.4 min vs 28.4 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Ithaca, NY | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 32,724 | 983,489 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $0 | $1,391,204 |
| Median Household Income | $45,468 | $142,891 |
| Average Commute | 18.4 min | 28.4 min |
| Walk Score | 72 | 51 |
| Crime Level | 5.4 | Moderate |
| School Rating | N/A | 7.2 |
| Cost of Living Index | 117 | 198 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+50.6 | D+40.0 |
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Score
Ithaca, NY
Small New York city with local appeal
Population
32,724
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
72
Median Income
$45,468
Northeast
View Ithaca, NY →
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 →