Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palm Coast, FL
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 Palm Coast leads 12 of 19 categories
Palm Coast
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$68,824
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,082
San Jose
California
7
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.
Palm Coast, FL
Pros
Homes cost $866k less ($283,300 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $905/mo less ($1,621 vs $2,526)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.1%)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 59°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $67,186/yr
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $67,186 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 88°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
Palm Coast
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Palm Coast
Median Home Value
$866k less
$283,300 vs $1,149,600
Palm Coast
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.1% vs 4.7% unemployment
Palm Coast
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 87.8°F vs 82.2°F
San Jose
Median Income
$67,186
$136,010 vs $68,824/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palm Coast, FL | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $283,300 ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,621⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $68,824 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 28.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.1% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 160⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.8% ✓ Higher | 85.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FLAGLER | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 18.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,082 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 50.3 ✓ Older | 37.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.9% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 29.5% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palm Coast's cost of living index is 104.5 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Palm Coast is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Palm Coast leads 12 of 19 categories. Palm Coast wins 12 and San Jose wins 7. 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 Palm Coast to San Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($283,300 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($68,824 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palm Coast, FL and San Jose, CA are about 2,381 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.