Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Jose, CA
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 West Palm Beach leads 13 of 22 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
West Palm Beach
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $71,966 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 90°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)
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Homes cost $825k less ($324,800 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $912/mo less ($1,614 vs $2,526)
5% less violent crime than San Jose
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 59°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $71,966/yr
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Jose
Median Income
$71,966
$136,010 vs $64,044/yr
San Jose
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
West Palm Beach
Violent Crime
5% lower
575.8 vs 606.8 per 100k
West Palm Beach
Median Home Value
$825k less
$324,800 vs $1,149,600
West Palm Beach
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Jose, CA | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.9⚠ High | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,149,600⚠ High | $324,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,526⚠ High | $1,614⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,010 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.8 min⚠ High | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 85.5% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Jose Unified | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.8" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 37.8 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Jose's cost of living index is 112.9 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
West Palm Beach is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, West Palm Beach leads 13 of 22 categories. San Jose wins 9 and West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,149,600 vs $324,800 median home), income ($136,010 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Jose, CA and West Palm Beach, FL are about 2,526 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.