What are the schools like in Sunnyvale, CA?

Sunnyvale is served primarily by Cupertino Union. The district operates 18 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 21.5:1.

What is the median household income in Sunnyvale?

The median household income in Sunnyvale, CA is $174,506 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.1%.

What is the weather like in Sunnyvale, CA?

Sunnyvale has an average high temperature of 59.0°F in January and 76.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 13.4 inches.

Sunnyvale, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Sunnyvale, CA affordable or expensive?

Sunnyvale's cost of living index is 113, where 100 represents the national average. This means Sunnyvale is 13% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $1,680,700 and the median rent is $2,990 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Sunnyvale, CA?

Sunnyvale has a violent crime rate of 244.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1909.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Sunnyvale, CA a Good Place to Live?

Sunnyvale is a mid-sized city of 154,573 in California, with a median household income of $174,506 and a 4.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 113 (US average = 100), which is 13% above the national average.

Strengths: Sunnyvale stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices. Whether Sunnyvale is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Sunnyvale city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 112.9

Sunnyvale's overall cost of living index is 112.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Sunnyvale costs roughly 13% more than the average American city.

Metric	Sunnyvale, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$1,680,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$2,990	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	44.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$174,506	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Sunnyvale's violent crime rate is 244.5 per 100,000 residents — 36% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

244.5 /100k

Property Crime

1909.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Sunnyvale is served primarily by Cupertino Union. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21.5:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Sunnyvale, CA	National Avg
School District	Cupertino Union	—
Elementary Schools	18	—
Middle Schools	5	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	21.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	68.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Sunnyvale sees average highs of 59.0°F in January and 76.9°F in July, with 13.4 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Sunnyvale, CA
Average High — January	59.0°F
Average High — July	76.9°F
Annual Precipitation	13.4"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Sunnyvale, CA	National Avg
Population	154,573	—
Median Age	35.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	31.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	12.6%	18.9%
Asian	49.6%	6.3%
Under 18	19.9%	22.2%
65 and over	12.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Mountain View, CA 3 mi Santa Clara, CA 4 mi Los Altos, CA 4 mi Loyola, CA 5 mi Cupertino, CA 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Sunnyvale

Sunnyvale, CA is covered by 4 ZIP codes:

94087 94089 94086 94085

Sunnyvale vs Other Cities

Sunnyvale, CA vs Mountain View, CA Sunnyvale, CA vs Santa Clara, CA Sunnyvale, CA vs Los Altos, CA Sunnyvale, CA vs Loyola, CA Sunnyvale, CA vs Cupertino, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sunnyvale, CA affordable or expensive?

Sunnyvale's cost of living index is 113, where 100 is the national average. That puts Sunnyvale roughly 13% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $1,680,700 and median rent is $2,990/month.

What is the crime rate in Sunnyvale, CA?

Sunnyvale's violent crime rate is 244.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1909.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Sunnyvale?

Public schools in Sunnyvale are operated by Cupertino Union. The district has 18 elementary, 5 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21.5:1. 68.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Sunnyvale, CA a good place to live?

Sunnyvale, CA has a population of 154,573, a median household income of $174,506, and an unemployment rate of 4.1%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Sunnyvale?

Sunnyvale averages 59.0°F in January and 76.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 13.4 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Sunnyvale?

Sunnyvale, CA is covered by 4 ZIP codes: 94087, 94089, 94086, 94085.

What is the population of Sunnyvale?

The population of Sunnyvale, California is 154,573 with a median age of 35.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Sunnyvale?

Key numbers for living in Sunnyvale: cost of living index 113 (100 = US average), median home $1,680,700, median household income $174,506, crime index 75 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sunnyvale side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.