Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 Alexandria leads 12 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$113,179
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594
San Jose
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Homes cost $494k less ($655,700 vs $1,149,600)
64% less violent crime than San Jose
Rent averages $543/mo less ($1,983 vs $2,526)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $22,831/yr
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $22,831 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 45°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Alexandria
Violent Crime
64% lower
219.1 vs 606.8 per 100k
Alexandria
Median Home Value
$494k less
$655,700 vs $1,149,600
Alexandria
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.7% unemployment
Alexandria
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 82.2°F
San Jose
Median Income
$22,831
$136,010 vs $113,179/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 28.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 16.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 85.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 18.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 55.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Alexandria is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 12 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 12 and San Jose wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alexandria to San Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($113,179 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and San Jose, CA are about 2,411 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.