Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Clara, CA
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 13 of 20 categories
Santa Clara
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$165,352
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
128,058
Sunnyvale
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
154,573 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
26% less violent crime than Sunnyvale
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $241k less ($1,440,200 vs $1,680,700)
Smaller class sizes — 19.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Rent averages $149/mo less ($2,841 vs $2,990)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Property crime (2501.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $9,154/yr
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $9,154 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Clara
Violent Crime
26% lower
182.0 vs 244.5 per 100k
Santa Clara
Median Home Value
$241k less
$1,440,200 vs $1,680,700
Santa Clara
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 80.8°F vs 76.9°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 112.9 on the COL index
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$9,154
$174,506 vs $165,352/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Clara, CA | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.9⚠ High | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $1,440,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,841⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $165,352 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 21.9% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 64.6% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 94.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Clara Unified | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 80.8°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.6" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 128,058 | 154,573 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 19.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Clara's cost of living index is 112.9 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 13 of 20 categories. Santa Clara wins 7 and Sunnyvale 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 Santa Clara to Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,440,200 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($165,352 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Clara, CA and Sunnyvale, CA are about 4 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.