Ithaca, NY vs Santa Clara, 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.
Santa Clara
65.7
#1617 nationally
Santa Clara leads in median household income ($165,352 vs $45,468). Ithaca leads in cost of living index (117 vs 241). Ithaca leads in average commute (18.4 min vs 23.6 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Ithaca, NY | Santa Clara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 32,724 | 131,062 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $0 | $1,680,833 |
| Median Household Income | $45,468 | $165,352 |
| Average Commute | 18.4 min | 23.6 min |
| Walk Score | 72 | 58 |
| Crime Level | 5.4 | 5.0 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 117 | 241 |
| 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
65.7 Score
Santa Clara, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$1,680,833
Population
131,062
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
58
Pacific
View Santa Clara, CA →