Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 San Jose leads 14 of 22 categories
Fresno
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528
San Jose
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
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.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Homes cost $828k less ($321,800 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $1299/mo less ($1,227 vs $2,526)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Smaller class sizes — 19.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $73,009/yr
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 4.7%)
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $73,009 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (4.7%)
17% less violent crime than Fresno
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 98°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Fresno
Median Home Value
$828k less
$321,800 vs $1,149,600
Fresno
Summer Heat
15.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 82.2°F
San Jose
Median Income
$73,009
$136,010 vs $63,001/yr
San Jose
Violent Crime
17% lower
606.8 vs 735.5 per 100k
San Jose
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
4.7% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 85.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 18.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 55.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Fresno is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Jose leads 14 of 22 categories. Fresno wins 8 and San Jose wins 14. 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 Fresno to San Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($63,001 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and San Jose, CA are about 117 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.