San Jose, CA vs Waco, TX
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
Waco
77.1
#281 nationally
San Jose leads in median household income ($142,891 vs $47,421). Waco leads in cost of living index (93 vs 198). Waco leads in average commute (17.5 min vs 28.4 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | San Jose, CA | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 63 (#1807) | 77.1 (#281) |
| Population | 983,489 | 144,816 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,391,204 | $197,359 |
| Median Household Income | $142,891 | $47,421 |
| Average Commute | 28.4 min | 17.5 min |
| Walk Score | 51 | 35 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 11.7 |
| School Rating | 7.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 198 | 93 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+40.0 | R+30.9 |
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 →
C+
77.1 Score
Waco, TX
Mid-size Texas city with community character
Median Home
$197,359
Population
144,816
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
35
Southwest
View Waco, TX →