Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Daly City, CA
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 San Jose leads 13 of 21 categories
Daly City
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,910
Violent Crime Index
78 ✓ Safer
Population
103,648
San Jose
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Daly City, CA
Pros
51% less violent crime than San Jose
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 82°F
Homes cost $77k less ($1,073,100 vs $1,149,600)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Median income trails San Jose by $21,100/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.7%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than San Jose
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $21,100 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Daly City
Cons
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)
Property crime (2587.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Key Differences at a Glance
Daly City
Violent Crime
51% lower
296.3 vs 606.8 per 100k
Daly City
Median Home Value
$77k less
$1,073,100 vs $1,149,600
San Jose
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 112.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
San Jose
Median Income
$21,100
$136,010 vs $114,910/yr
San Jose
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
San Jose
Summer Heat
20.4°F warmer
July avg high 82.2°F vs 61.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Daly City, CA | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,073,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,554⚠ High | $2,526⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $114,910 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.8 min⚠ High | 28.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 86 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 20.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.5% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.8% ✓ Higher | 85.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Elementary | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 61.8°F | 82.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.6" | 18.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 103,648 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.4 ✓ Older | 37.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 14.8% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.5% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Daly City's cost of living index is 118.2 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
San Jose is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, San Jose leads 13 of 21 categories. Daly City wins 8 and San Jose wins 13. 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 Daly City to San Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,073,100 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($114,910 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Daly City, CA and San Jose, CA are about 45 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.