Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Leandro, CA
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 17 of 22 categories
San Leandro
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
89,723
Sunnyvale
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Leandro, CA
Pros
Homes cost $908k less ($772,700 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $993/mo less ($1,997 vs $2,990)
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 77°F
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $77,365/yr
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (3922.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $77,365 more per year on average
55% less violent crime than San Leandro
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.1%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Leandro
Median Home Value
$908k less
$772,700 vs $1,680,700
Sunnyvale
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 112.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$77,365
$174,506 vs $97,141/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
55% lower
244.5 vs 548.7 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.0% unemployment
Sunnyvale
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 76.9°F vs 71.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Leandro, CA | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $772,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,997⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,141 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.6 min⚠ High | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.2% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 161⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 187⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.6:1 | 21.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.3% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Leandro Unified | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 71.6°F | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.7" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,723 | 154,573 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.5 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | 19.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.6% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Leandro's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Sunnyvale is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 17 of 22 categories. San Leandro wins 5 and Sunnyvale wins 17. 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 Leandro to Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($772,700 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($97,141 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Leandro, CA and Sunnyvale, CA are about 23 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.