Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Jose, CA
VS
Simi Valley, CA
🏆 Simi Valley leads 14 of 22 categories
San Jose
California
8
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
Simi Valley
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $23,866 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
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)
Property crime (2587.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
79% less violent crime than San Jose
Homes cost $445k less ($704,200 vs $1,149,600)
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 59°F
Rent averages $124/mo less ($2,402 vs $2,526)
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $23,866/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Jose
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 112.9 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
San Jose
Median Income
$23,866
$136,010 vs $112,144/yr
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
79% lower
129.1 vs 606.8 per 100k
Simi Valley
Median Home Value
$445k less
$704,200 vs $1,149,600
Simi Valley
Summer Heat
12.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Jose, CA | Simi Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $1,149,600⚠ High | $704,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,526⚠ High | $2,402⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,010 ✓ Higher | $112,144 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.8 min⚠ High | 28.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% ✓ Higher | 14.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 36.0% |
| High School or Higher | 85.5% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Jose Unified | Simi Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.8" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger | 126,153 |
| Median Age | 37.8 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% | 72.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Jose's cost of living index is 112.9 vs Simi Valley's 113.5 (US average = 100).
San Jose is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 14 of 22 categories. San Jose wins 8 and Simi Valley wins 14. 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 San Jose to Simi Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,149,600 vs $704,200 median home), income ($136,010 vs $112,144), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Jose, CA and Simi Valley, CA are about 271 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.