San Jose, CA vs Santa Barbara, 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.
San Jose
63
#1807 nationally
Santa Barbara
59.8
#1944 nationally
Santa Barbara leads in average commute (17.6 min vs 28.4 min). San Jose leads in median household income ($142,891 vs $98,346). Santa Barbara leads in walk score (61 vs 51).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | San Jose, CA | Santa Barbara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 63 (#1807) | 59.8 (#1944) |
| Population | 983,489 | 86,499 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,391,204 | $1,848,325 |
| Median Household Income | $142,891 | $98,346 |
| Average Commute | 28.4 min | 17.6 min |
| Walk Score | 51 | 61 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 17.8 |
| School Rating | 7.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 198 | 225 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+40.0 | D+26.7 |
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 →
F
59.8 Score
Santa Barbara, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$1,848,325
Population
86,499
Crime
High
Walk Score
61
Pacific
View Santa Barbara, CA →
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