Santa Clara, CA vs Sunnyvale, 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.
Santa Clara
65.7
#1617 nationally
Sunnyvale
66.4
#1551 nationally
Sunnyvale leads in cost of living index (205 vs 241). Santa Clara leads in average commute (23.6 min vs 25.6 min). Santa Clara leads in walk score (58 vs 54).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Santa Clara, CA | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 65.7 (#1617) | 66.4 (#1551) |
| Population | 131,062 | 155,805 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,680,833 | $2,050,814 |
| Median Household Income | $165,352 | $168,924 |
| Average Commute | 23.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Walk Score | 58 | 54 |
| Crime Level | 5.0 | Low |
| School Rating | N/A | 8.6 |
| Cost of Living Index | 241 | 205 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+40.0 | D+40.0 |
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 →
D
66.4 Score
Sunnyvale, CA
Heart of tech innovation
Median Home
$2,050,814
Population
155,805
Crime
Low
Schools
A
Pacific
View Sunnyvale, CA →
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