Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 Austin leads 14 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202
San Jose
California
9
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.
Austin, TX
Pros
Homes cost $688k less ($461,500 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $977/mo less ($1,549 vs $2,526)
23% less violent crime than San Jose
15% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $49,454/yr
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,454 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Austin
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Violent Crime
23% lower
466.9 vs 606.8 per 100k
Austin
Median Home Value
$688k less
$461,500 vs $1,149,600
Austin
Summer Heat
14.4°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 82.2°F
San Jose
Median Income
$49,454
$136,010 vs $86,556/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 28.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 16.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 85.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 18.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 55.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Austin is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 14 of 23 categories. Austin wins 14 and San Jose wins 9. 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 Austin to San Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($86,556 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and San Jose, CA are about 1,459 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.