Palmdale, 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.
Palmdale
58
#1956 nationally
San Jose
63
#1807 nationally
San Jose leads in walk score (51 vs 24). San Jose leads in median household income ($142,891 vs $78,414). Palmdale leads in cost of living index (130 vs 198).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Palmdale, CA | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 58 (#1956) | 63 (#1807) |
| Population | 161,404 | 983,489 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $503,499 | $1,391,204 |
| Median Household Income | $78,414 | $142,891 |
| Average Commute | 41.3 min | 28.4 min |
| Walk Score | 24 | 51 |
| Crime Level | 15.1 | Moderate |
| School Rating | N/A | 7.2 |
| Cost of Living Index | 130 | 198 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+32.9 | D+40.0 |
F
58 Score
Palmdale, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$503,499
Population
161,404
Crime
High
Walk Score
24
Pacific
View Palmdale, 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 →
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