City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

San Jose, CA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for San Jose - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

990,054
Residents
$141,565
Median income
$1,187,800
Median home
$3,483
Median rent (state)

San Jose - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, San Jose lands in the 93rd percentile for household income and the 14th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

93rd
percentile, household income
98th
percentile, home value
99th
percentile, median rent
14th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: San Jose, CA

990,054 people live in San Jose, California - a mid-sized U.S. city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. San Jose households earn a median of $141,565 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 4.9%. San Jose's housing stock carries a median value of $1,187,800, and the median resident age is 38.1 years. About 46.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 64.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 1,998 residential building permits were authorized in San Jose (Slowing), down 15% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. San Jose's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 3194.7 crimes per 100,000 residents, above the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 60.7°F with 13.5 inches of precipitation per year.

California carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, California scores 110.7 (Well Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $3,483 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in California run around $275, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Commute times here average 22.9 minutes, with 64.6% driving alone and 18.5% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 99.7 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

990,054 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$141,565 /yr

Poverty 4.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does San Jose compare to other US cities?

San Jose measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 93% higher than other cities
Home value 98% pricier than other cities
Median rent 99% pricier than other cities
Safety 14% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just California and the picture shifts: San Jose ranks #380 of 441 California cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares San Jose against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to California only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

California-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent is San Jose's strongest outlier among California cities

Among the 1,458 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, San Jose ranks #126 - the 91st percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares San Jose only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#205 of 1,338
85th percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#126 of 1,458
91st percentile in California
Median Home Value
#163 of 1,343
88th percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#853 of 1,450
41st percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#315 of 1,458
78th percentile in California

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within California only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

93rdIncome percentile
14thSafety percentile

93rd percentile nationally for median household income · 14th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

San Jose's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

San Jose's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 36 Avg. percentile National median
San Jose's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How San Jose's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$1,187,800 2nd percentile more affordable than 2% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. San Jose $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - San Jose, CA San Jose, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not San Jose, CA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution San Jose, CA median $141,565/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
San Jose, CA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for San Jose, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 46.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 64.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
990,054
Median Income
$141,565
Median Home Value
$1,187,800
Median Age
38.1
Poverty Rate
4.9%
Labor force participation
64.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
46.5%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3194.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
606.8
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2587.9
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
60.7°F
Annual Precipitation
13.5"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
234
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
970,000 residents980,000 residents990,000 residents1,000,000 residents1,010,000 residents1,020,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,009,573 residents 989,814 residents ▼ -2.0%
San Jose's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
1,998
housing units authorized
Single-Family
642
detached homes
Multifamily
1,356
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 2,345
2020 1,369
2021 658
2022 2,003
2023 2,650
2024 1,998

Permit volume decreased 15% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
22.9 minutes
Drive Alone
64.6%
Carpool
10.5%
Public Transit
2.8%
Walk
1.8%
Work from Home
18.5%
Other
1.8%

Based on 504,439 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for California - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county San Jose sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$3,483/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.7 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

San Francisco
836,321 people
San Diego
1,385,061 people
Fresno
543,615 people
Sacramento
524,802 people
Long Beach
458,491 people
Oakland
438,072 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to San Jose's 990,054 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Austin, TX
967,862 people
Jacksonville, FL
961,739 people
Fort Worth, TX
941,311 people
Columbus, OH
906,480 people
Charlotte, NC
886,283 people
Indianapolis city (balance), IN
882,043 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to San Jose's $141,565 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Brewster Heights, NY
$141,563 median income
Mendon, UT
$141,563 median income
Niwot, CO
$141,621 median income
Malverne Park Oaks, NY
$141,629 median income
Simsbury Center, CT
$141,688 median income
Arlington, MA
$141,440 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - San Jose, CA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition San Jose, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 29.0% 38.6% 13.6% 14.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 30.9% White 29.0% Black or African American 2.9% Asian 38.6% American Indian 1.0% Native Hawaiian 0.5% Some other race 13.6% Two or more races 14.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How San Jose compares to nearby California cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
San Jose (this city) 990,054 $141,565
San Francisco 836,321 $141,446
San Diego 1,385,061 $104,321
Fresno 543,615 $66,804
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about San Jose, CA?

What is the population of San Jose, CA? +

990,054 people live in San Jose, CA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in San Jose, CA? +

In San Jose, the typical household earns $141,565 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in San Jose? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for San Jose; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

Is San Jose, CA safe? +

San Jose has a total crime rate of 3194.7 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in San Jose, CA? +

San Jose's median home value sits at $1,187,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in San Jose? +

Climate normals put San Jose's yearly average temperature at 60.7°F, 13.5 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.