Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 San Jose leads 16 of 22 categories
Kent
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169
San Jose
California
16
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.
Kent, WA
Pros
Homes cost $671k less ($478,400 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $784/mo less ($1,742 vs $2,526)
19% less violent crime than San Jose
Smaller class sizes — 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $49,044/yr
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3771.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,044 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 48°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
Kent
Violent Crime
19% lower
489.7 vs 606.8 per 100k
Kent
Median Home Value
$671k less
$478,400 vs $1,149,600
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 113.0 on the COL index
San Jose
Median Income
$49,044
$136,010 vs $86,966/yr
San Jose
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.6% unemployment
San Jose
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 82.2°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 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 | 149⚠ High | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ 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 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 85.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 82.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 18.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
San Jose is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Jose leads 16 of 22 categories. Kent 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 Kent to San Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($86,966 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and San Jose, CA are about 698 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.