Charlottesville, VA vs Santa Clara, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Charlottesville
70.1
#1130 nationally
Santa Clara
65.7
#1617 nationally
Santa Clara leads in median household income ($165,352 vs $67,177). Charlottesville leads in cost of living index (122 vs 241). Santa Clara leads in crime level (5.0 vs 9.8).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Charlottesville, VA | Santa Clara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 70.1 (#1130) | 65.7 (#1617) |
| Population | 44,983 | 131,062 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $522,903 | $1,680,833 |
| Median Household Income | $67,177 | $165,352 |
| Average Commute | 17 min | 23.6 min |
| Walk Score | 58 | 58 |
| Crime Level | 9.8 | 5.0 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 122 | 241 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+68.7 | D+40.0 |
C-
70.1 Score
Charlottesville, VA
Small Virginia city with local appeal
Median Home
$522,903
Population
44,983
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
58
Northeast
View Charlottesville, VA →
D
65.7 Score
Santa Clara, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$1,680,833
Population
131,062
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
58
Pacific
View Santa Clara, CA →
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