Oakland, CA 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.
Oakland
62
#1880 nationally
Santa Clara
65.7
#1617 nationally
Santa Clara leads in median household income ($165,352 vs $85,459). Oakland leads in cost of living index (155 vs 241). Santa Clara leads in average commute (23.6 min vs 32.1 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Oakland, CA | Santa Clara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 62 (#1880) | 65.7 (#1617) |
| Population | 433,823 | 131,062 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $717,798 | $1,680,833 |
| Median Household Income | $85,459 | $165,352 |
| Average Commute | 32.1 min | 23.6 min |
| Walk Score | 73 | 58 |
| Crime Level | High | 5.0 |
| School Rating | 4.8 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 155 | 241 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+53.6 | D+40.0 |
D-
62 Score
Oakland, CA
Gritty, diverse, and full of culture
Median Home
$717,798
Population
433,823
Crime
High
Schools
C
Pacific
View Oakland, CA →
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 →