Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Jose, CA
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 Stamford leads 13 of 23 categories
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
Stamford
Connecticut
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$100,718
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
135,413
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,292 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 38°F
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)
Stamford, CT
Pros
Homes cost $565k less ($584,700 vs $1,149,600)
74% less violent crime than San Jose
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $397/mo less ($2,129 vs $2,526)
More college-educated — 50.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $35,292/yr
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Jose
Median Income
$35,292
$136,010 vs $100,718/yr
San Jose
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
Stamford
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Stamford
Violent Crime
74% lower
157.5 vs 606.8 per 100k
Stamford
Median Home Value
$565k less
$584,700 vs $1,149,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Jose, CA | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.9⚠ High | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,149,600⚠ High | $584,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,526⚠ High | $2,129⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,010 ✓ Higher | $100,718 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.8 min⚠ High | 27.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% | 50.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.5% | 88.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Jose Unified | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.8" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger | 135,413 |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Jose's cost of living index is 112.9 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Stamford is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Stamford leads 13 of 23 categories. San Jose wins 10 and Stamford wins 13. 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 Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,149,600 vs $584,700 median home), income ($136,010 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Jose, CA and Stamford, CT are about 2,565 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.