San Jose, CA vs Wheaton, IL
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
Wheaton
75.2
#497 nationally
Wheaton leads in cost of living index (126 vs 198). San Jose leads in walk score (51 vs 40). San Jose leads in median household income ($142,891 vs $113,523).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | San Jose, CA | Wheaton, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 63 (#1807) | 75.2 (#497) |
| Population | 983,489 | 52,938 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,391,204 | $518,505 |
| Median Household Income | $142,891 | $113,523 |
| Average Commute | 28.4 min | 26.5 min |
| Walk Score | 51 | 40 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 1.4 |
| School Rating | 7.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 198 | 126 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+40.0 | D+13.3 |
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 →
C
75.2 Score
Wheaton, IL
Illinois community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$518,505
Population
52,938
Crime
Very Low
Walk Score
40
Midwest
View Wheaton, IL →