Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Jose, CA
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Sparks leads 14 of 23 categories
San Jose
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Sparks
Nevada
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,938
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $53,072 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°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)
Sparks, NV
Pros
Homes cost $726k less ($423,500 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $1000/mo less ($1,526 vs $2,526)
35% less violent crime than San Jose
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Smaller class sizes — 19.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $53,072/yr
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Jose
Median Income
$53,072
$136,010 vs $82,938/yr
San Jose
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.1% unemployment
Sparks
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.2 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Sparks
Violent Crime
35% lower
394.4 vs 606.8 per 100k
Sparks
Median Home Value
$726k less
$423,500 vs $1,149,600
Sparks
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Jose, CA | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.9⚠ High | 103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,149,600⚠ High | $423,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,526⚠ High | $1,526⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,010 ✓ Higher | $82,938 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.8 min⚠ High | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 85.5% | 85.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Jose Unified | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.8" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Jose's cost of living index is 112.9 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Sparks is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sparks leads 14 of 23 categories. San Jose wins 9 and Sparks 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,149,600 vs $423,500 median home), income ($136,010 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Jose, CA and Sparks, NV are about 194 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.