San Jose, CA vs Wake Forest, NC
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
Wake Forest
68.8
#1286 nationally
San Jose leads in walk score (51 vs 20). Wake Forest leads in cost of living index (116 vs 198). San Jose leads in median household income ($142,891 vs $115,159).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | San Jose, CA | Wake Forest, NC |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 63 (#1807) | 68.8 (#1286) |
| Population | 983,489 | 54,337 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,391,204 | $513,720 |
| Median Household Income | $142,891 | $115,159 |
| Average Commute | 28.4 min | 31.7 min |
| Walk Score | 51 | 20 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 4.0 |
| School Rating | 7.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 198 | 116 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+40.0 | D+25.6 |
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 →
D+
68.8 Score
Wake Forest, NC
North Carolina community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$513,720
Population
54,337
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
20
Southeast
View Wake Forest, NC →
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