El Centro, CA vs San Jose, 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.
El Centro
70
#1141 nationally
San Jose
63
#1807 nationally
San Jose leads in median household income ($142,891 vs $54,922). El Centro leads in cost of living index (111 vs 198). El Centro leads in average commute (21.6 min vs 28.4 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | El Centro, CA | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 70 (#1141) | 63 (#1807) |
| Population | 43,772 | 983,489 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $396,150 | $1,391,204 |
| Median Household Income | $54,922 | $142,891 |
| Average Commute | 21.6 min | 28.4 min |
| Walk Score | 51 | 51 |
| Crime Level | 9.0 | Moderate |
| School Rating | N/A | 7.2 |
| Cost of Living Index | 111 | 198 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+0.9 | D+40.0 |
C-
70 Score
El Centro, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$396,150
Population
43,772
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
51
Pacific
View El Centro, CA →
D
63 Score
San Jose, CA
Capital of Silicon Valley
Median Home
$1,391,204
Population
983,489
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B
Pacific
View San Jose, CA →