Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orange, CA
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 Orange leads 12 of 21 categories
Orange
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728
San Jose
California
9
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.
Orange, CA
Pros
63% less violent crime than San Jose
Homes cost $301k less ($848,200 vs $1,149,600)
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $378/mo less ($2,148 vs $2,526)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 59°F
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $26,675/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than San Jose
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $26,675 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 20.8:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Orange
Violent Crime
63% lower
226.1 vs 606.8 per 100k
Orange
Median Home Value
$301k less
$848,200 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
$26,675
$136,010 vs $109,335/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orange, 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 | $848,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,148⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,335 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.1% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 20.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.3% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% ✓ Higher | 85.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Orange Unified | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.5" ✓ Drier | 18.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 138,728 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orange'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 21 decided categories above, Orange leads 12 of 21 categories. Orange wins 12 and San Jose wins 9. 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 Orange to San Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($848,200 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($109,335 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orange, CA and San Jose, CA are about 329 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.