Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 San Jose leads 12 of 23 categories
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Kentucky
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,114
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
629,176
San Jose
California
12
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.
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
Pros
Homes cost $945k less ($204,800 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $1512/mo less ($1,014 vs $2,526)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.0)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $72,896/yr
Violent crime (707.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3326.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $72,896 more per year on average
14% less violent crime than Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 42°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 87°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 19% higher than Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Key Differences at a Glance
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 94.0 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Median Home Value
$945k less
$204,800 vs $1,149,600
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 82.2°F
San Jose
Median Income
$72,896
$136,010 vs $63,114/yr
San Jose
Violent Crime
14% lower
606.8 vs 707.4 per 100k
San Jose
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.0 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $204,800 ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,114 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% ✓ Higher | 85.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.4°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 18.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 15.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 629,176 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 37.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.4% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government's cost of living index is 94.0 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Jose leads 12 of 23 categories. Louisville/Jefferson County metro government wins 11 and San Jose wins 12. 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 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government to San Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($204,800 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($63,114 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY and San Jose, CA are about 1,965 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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