Los Angeles or San Jose: which is better?
US metro area: head-to-head comparison
San Jose wins on more indicators: 7 of 12 against 3.
- Money: tie 2:2
- Climate and risks: San Jose 1:5
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
Los Angeles
Indicator
San Jose
Money
Tie (2 : 2)Per capita income
higher is better
✗$86,376
202444% lower
✓$154,582
202479% higher
Typical rent
lower is better
✓$2,929
2026-09-3023% lower
✗$3,812
2026-09-3030% higher
Typical home value
lower is better
✓$950,020
2026-09-3038% lower
✗$1,523,615
2026-09-3060% higher
Price level
lower is better
✗113.6 100 = US average
20243% higher
✓110.4 100 = US average
20243% lower
Climate and risks
Better: San Jose (1 : 5)Air: median AQI
lower is better
✗80 AQI
202457% higher
✓51 AQI
202436% lower
Days with unhealthy air
lower is better
✗134 days per year
20246600% higher
✓2 days per year
202499% lower
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✗56 days per year
2016-202550% higher
✓37 days per year
2016-202533% lower
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
tie
0 days per year
2016-2025
0 days per year
2016-2025
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
tie
0.0 days per year
2016-2025
0.0 days per year
2016-2025
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
0 days per year
2016-2025
0 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
450 °C·days per year
2016-2025
1,020 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
863 °C·days per year
2016-2025
494 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
26 days per year
2016-2025
38 days per year
2016-2025
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
394 mm per year
2016-2025
277 mm per year
2016-2025
Daylight on December 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
9.9 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
9.6 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Daylight on June 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
14.4 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
14.7 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Air humidity
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
72 %
2021-2025
74 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
lower is better
✗1 days per year
2021-2025
✓0 days per year
2021-2025
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
23 km
2006-2025
22 km
2006-2025
Earthquakes M4.5+ within 100 km
lower is better
✗0.45 per year
2006-202550% higher
✓0.30 per year
2006-202533% lower
Strongest earthquake in the period
lower is better
✓5.4 magnitude
2006-2025almost equal
5.5 magnitude
2006-2025almost equal
Urban environment
no winnerPopulation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
12,927,614 people
2024
1,995,484 people
2024
A winner is named only for indicators with a known “better / worse” direction. Population and other neutral indicators are shown without a winner. Outdated and missing values are not counted. Details for each place: Los Angeles, San Jose.