Which is better, Los Angeles, CA or San Jose, CA?

San Jose, CA comes out ahead of Los Angeles, CA on 27 of 38 statistics where one end is better, to 11. San Jose, CA leads on Economics and Crime & Safety. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.

Which has more people, Los Angeles, CA or San Jose, CA?

Los Angeles, CA has a population of 3,863,148 (2nd of 477 US cities) and San Jose, CA has 984,378 (13th of 477).

How do Los Angeles, CA and San Jose, CA compare on Median Household Income?

Median Household Income: Los Angeles, CA $81,939 (151st of 434), San Jose, CA $146,427 (37th of 434) among US cities. San Jose, CA ranks better.

How do Los Angeles, CA and San Jose, CA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?

Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Los Angeles, CA $921,200 (392nd of 434), San Jose, CA $1.23M (408th of 434) among US cities. Los Angeles, CA ranks better.

Where does Los Angeles, CA beat San Jose, CA most clearly?

Los Angeles, CA ranks far ahead on Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $1,933 vs $2,669; Price Level (Housing Rents) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 170.4 vs 211.9; Property Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 2,235.5 vs 2,372.1.

Where does San Jose, CA beat Los Angeles, CA most clearly?

San Jose, CA ranks far ahead on Poverty Rate (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 8.12% vs 16.5%; Murder Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 2.4 vs 5.8; Median Household Income (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $146,427 vs $81,939.

Los Angeles, CA vs San Jose, CA

San Jose, CA comes out ahead of Los Angeles, CA on 27 of 38 statistics where one end is better, to 11. San Jose, CA leads on Economics and Crime & Safety.

38 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

Los Angeles, CA

Wins: 11
Avg. percentile: 33
Categories led: 0

San Jose, CA

Wins: 27
Avg. percentile: 45
Categories led: 2

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

Statistic	Los Angeles, CA	San Jose, CA
Population	3,863,148 2nd of 477	984,378 13th of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$81,939 151st of 434	$146,427 37th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$921,200 392nd of 434	$1.23M 408th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	16.5% 271st of 434	8.12% 76th of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	113.6 tied 423rd of 460	110.4 tied 397th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$77,270 tied 61st of 460	$119,230 tied 1st of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,933 352nd of 434	$2,669 407th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	667.7 309th of 395	503.4 261st of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

EconomicsSan Jose, CA · 14 statistics
Crime & SafetySan Jose, CA · 5 statistics

Biggest differences

The 19 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 239 US cities.

Statistic	Los Angeles, CA	San Jose, CA
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	16.5% 271st of 434	8.12% 76th of 434
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	5.8 263rd of 395	2.4 149th of 395
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$81,939 151st of 434	$146,427 37th of 434
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	92.6% 172nd of 434	95.4% 65th of 434
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	104.4 tied 413th of 460	100.3 tied 309th of 460
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$55,850 tied 87th of 460	$84,050 tied 1st of 460
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	38.5% 167th of 434	47.3% 103rd of 434
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$77,270 tied 61st of 460	$119,230 tied 1st of 460
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	30.7 396th of 434	27.3 337th of 434
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,933 352nd of 434	$2,669 407th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	667.7 309th of 395	503.4 261st of 395
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	170.4 tied 414th of 460	211.9 tied last of 460
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	113.6 tied 423rd of 460	110.4 tied 397th of 460
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	106.6 tied 411th of 460	105.2 tied 374th of 460
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	2,235.5 246th of 395	2,372.1 266th of 395
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	158.6 tied 419th of 460	156.7 tied 401st of 460
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	308.4 275th of 395	336.8 292nd of 395
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$921,200 392nd of 434	$1.23M 408th of 434
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	518.8 348th of 395	518.2 347th of 395

See every statistic they shareSearch and sort all of them, adjust for cost of living or population, or add up to two more places.

Quick answers

Which is better, Los Angeles, CA or San Jose, CA?: San Jose, CA comes out ahead of Los Angeles, CA on 27 of 38 statistics where one end is better, to 11. San Jose, CA leads on Economics and Crime & Safety. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Los Angeles, CA or San Jose, CA?: Los Angeles, CA has a population of 3,863,148 (2nd of 477 US cities) and San Jose, CA has 984,378 (13th of 477).
How do Los Angeles, CA and San Jose, CA compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: Los Angeles, CA $81,939 (151st of 434), San Jose, CA $146,427 (37th of 434) among US cities. San Jose, CA ranks better.
How do Los Angeles, CA and San Jose, CA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?: Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Los Angeles, CA $921,200 (392nd of 434), San Jose, CA $1.23M (408th of 434) among US cities. Los Angeles, CA ranks better.
Where does Los Angeles, CA beat San Jose, CA most clearly?: Los Angeles, CA ranks far ahead on Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $1,933 vs $2,669; Price Level (Housing Rents) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 170.4 vs 211.9; Property Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 2,235.5 vs 2,372.1.
Where does San Jose, CA beat Los Angeles, CA most clearly?: San Jose, CA ranks far ahead on Poverty Rate (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 8.12% vs 16.5%; Murder Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 2.4 vs 5.8; Median Household Income (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $146,427 vs $81,939.

More matchups

Other comparisons with Los Angeles, CA or San Jose, CA.

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