Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CA
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 San Jose leads 12 of 22 categories
Norwalk
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
101,893
San Jose
California
12
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.
Norwalk, CA
Pros
Homes cost $557k less ($593,100 vs $1,149,600)
38% less violent crime than San Jose
Rent averages $666/mo less ($1,860 vs $2,526)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 59°F
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $44,751/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.7%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than San Jose
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,751 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.7%)
Smaller class sizes — 20.8:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
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
Norwalk
Violent Crime
38% lower
374.4 vs 606.8 per 100k
Norwalk
Median Home Value
$557k less
$593,100 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
$44,751
$136,010 vs $91,259/yr
San Jose
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, 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 | $593,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,860⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,259 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.5 min⚠ High | 28.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.8:1 | 20.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.8% | 85.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 18.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,893 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.6% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk'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 12 of 22 categories. Norwalk wins 10 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 Norwalk to San Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,100 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($91,259 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CA and San Jose, CA are about 314 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.