Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 San Jose leads 16 of 22 categories
Compton
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
San Jose
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Compton, CA
Pros
Homes cost $660k less ($489,400 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $1062/mo less ($1,464 vs $2,526)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 59°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 82°F
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $66,282/yr
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3145.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $66,282 more per year on average
52% less violent crime than Compton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 20.8:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Compton
Median Home Value
$660k less
$489,400 vs $1,149,600
San Jose
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
San Jose
Median Income
$66,282
$136,010 vs $69,728/yr
San Jose
Violent Crime
52% lower
606.8 vs 1271.7 per 100k
San Jose
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.9% unemployment
San Jose
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 82.2°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 28.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 20.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 85.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 82.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 18.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
San Jose is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Jose leads 16 of 22 categories. Compton wins 6 and San Jose wins 16. 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 Compton to San Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($69,728 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and San Jose, CA are about 310 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.