San Jose, CA vs Tempe, AZ
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
Tempe
68.3
#1328 nationally
San Jose leads in median household income ($142,891 vs $72,022). Tempe leads in cost of living index (119 vs 198). Tempe leads in average commute (21.5 min vs 28.4 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | San Jose, CA | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 63 (#1807) | 68.3 (#1328) |
| Population | 983,489 | 189,834 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,391,204 | $465,636 |
| Median Household Income | $142,891 | $72,022 |
| Average Commute | 28.4 min | 21.5 min |
| Walk Score | 51 | 54 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 12.9 |
| School Rating | 7.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 198 | 119 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+40.0 | R+3.5 |
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 →
D+
68.3 Score
Tempe, AZ
Mid-size Arizona city with community character
Median Home
$465,636
Population
189,834
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
54
Southwest
View Tempe, AZ →