Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CT
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 Norwalk leads 13 of 23 categories
Norwalk
Connecticut
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,879
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
San Jose
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
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, CT
Pros
Homes cost $658k less ($491,800 vs $1,149,600)
86% less violent crime than San Jose
Rent averages $665/mo less ($1,861 vs $2,526)
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $38,131/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.7%)
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,131 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Norwalk
Violent Crime
86% lower
85.0 vs 606.8 per 100k
Norwalk
Median Home Value
$658k less
$491,800 vs $1,149,600
San Jose
Median Income
$38,131
$136,010 vs $97,879/yr
San Jose
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, CT | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $491,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,861⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,879 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 42 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.6% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 85.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk School District | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.0°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 18.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,050 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.0 ✓ Older | 37.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% | 55.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk's cost of living index is 106.5 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Norwalk is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norwalk leads 13 of 23 categories. Norwalk wins 13 and San Jose wins 10. 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 ($491,800 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($97,879 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CT and San Jose, CA are about 2,571 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.