Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Jose, CA
VS
Visalia, CA
🏆 Visalia leads 12 of 23 categories
San Jose
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Visalia
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,658
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
141,466
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $60,352 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°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)
Visalia, CA
Pros
Homes cost $833k less ($316,600 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $1237/mo less ($1,289 vs $2,526)
28% less violent crime than San Jose
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $60,352/yr
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Jose
Median Income
$60,352
$136,010 vs $75,658/yr
San Jose
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.6% unemployment
Visalia
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 101.3 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Visalia
Violent Crime
28% lower
435.3 vs 606.8 per 100k
Visalia
Median Home Value
$833k less
$316,600 vs $1,149,600
Visalia
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Jose, CA | Visalia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.9⚠ High | 101.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,149,600⚠ High | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,526⚠ High | $1,289 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,010 ✓ Higher | $75,658 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.8 min⚠ High | 21.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 23.3% |
| High School or Higher | 85.5% | 86.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Jose Unified | Visalia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer | 55.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.8" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger | 141,466 |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 28.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Jose's cost of living index is 112.9 vs Visalia's 101.3 (US average = 100).
Visalia is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Visalia leads 12 of 23 categories. San Jose wins 11 and Visalia wins 12. 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 Visalia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,149,600 vs $316,600 median home), income ($136,010 vs $75,658), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Jose, CA and Visalia, CA are about 153 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.