Which is better, San Jose, CA or Washington, DC?

San Jose, CA comes out ahead of Washington, DC on 28 of 45 statistics where one end is better, to 17. San Jose, CA leads on Crime & Safety and Economics. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.

Which has more people, San Jose, CA or Washington, DC?

San Jose, CA has a population of 984,378 (13th of 477 US cities) and Washington, DC has 698,733 (22nd of 477).

How do San Jose, CA and Washington, DC compare on Median Household Income?

Median Household Income: San Jose, CA $146,427 (37th of 434), Washington, DC $109,870 (65th of 434) among US cities. San Jose, CA ranks better.

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

Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): San Jose, CA $1.23M (408th of 434), Washington, DC $737,100 (376th of 434) among US cities. Washington, DC ranks better.

Where does San Jose, CA beat Washington, DC most clearly?

San Jose, CA ranks far ahead on Murder Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 2.4 vs 16.6; Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 95.4% vs 91.2%; Poverty Rate (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 8.12% vs 15.4%.

Where does Washington, DC beat San Jose, CA most clearly?

Washington, DC ranks far ahead on Burglary Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 193.3 vs 336.8; Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 106.7 vs 156.7; Price Level (Housing Rents) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 151.1 vs 211.9.

San Jose, CA vs Washington, DC

San Jose, CA comes out ahead of Washington, DC on 28 of 45 statistics where one end is better, to 17. San Jose, CA leads on Crime & Safety and Economics.

45 statistics with a better end, compared

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

San Jose, CA

Wins: 28
Avg. percentile: 47
Categories led: 2

Washington, DC

Wins: 17
Avg. percentile: 35
Categories led: 0

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

Statistic	San Jose, CA	Washington, DC
Population	984,378 13th of 477	698,733 22nd of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$146,427 37th of 434	$109,870 65th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1.23M 408th of 434	$737,100 376th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	8.12% 76th of 434	15.4% 241st of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	110.4 tied 397th of 460	108.9 tied 384th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$119,230 tied 1st of 460	$91,930 tied 24th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$2,669 407th of 434	$1,954 354th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	503.4 261st of 395	746.8 329th of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

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

Biggest differences

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

Statistic	San Jose, CA	Washington, DC
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	2.4 149th of 395	16.6 368th of 395
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	95.4% 65th of 434	91.2% 241st of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	8.12% 76th of 434	15.4% 241st of 434
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	336.8 292nd of 395	193.3 172nd of 395
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	503.4 261st of 395	746.8 329th of 395
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	2,372.1 266th of 395	3,070.2 329th of 395
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	156.7 tied 401st of 460	106.7 tied 329th of 460
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	211.9 tied last of 460	151.1 tied 390th of 460
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	47.3% 103rd of 434	64.2% 48th of 434
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$2,669 407th of 434	$1,954 354th of 434
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	100.3 tied 309th of 460	102.3 tied 371st of 460
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	27.3 337th of 434	30.0 384th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1.23M 408th of 434	$737,100 376th of 434
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$146,427 37th of 434	$109,870 65th of 434
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$84,050 tied 1st of 460	$71,060 tied 30th of 460
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	518.2 347th of 395	650.5 371st of 395
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$119,230 tied 1st of 460	$91,930 tied 24th of 460
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	105.2 tied 374th of 460	104.8 tied 362nd of 460
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	110.4 tied 397th of 460	108.9 tied 384th of 460

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, San Jose, CA or Washington, DC?: San Jose, CA comes out ahead of Washington, DC on 28 of 45 statistics where one end is better, to 17. San Jose, CA leads on Crime & Safety and Economics. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, San Jose, CA or Washington, DC?: San Jose, CA has a population of 984,378 (13th of 477 US cities) and Washington, DC has 698,733 (22nd of 477).
How do San Jose, CA and Washington, DC compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: San Jose, CA $146,427 (37th of 434), Washington, DC $109,870 (65th of 434) among US cities. San Jose, CA ranks better.
How do San Jose, CA and Washington, DC compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?: Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): San Jose, CA $1.23M (408th of 434), Washington, DC $737,100 (376th of 434) among US cities. Washington, DC ranks better.
Where does San Jose, CA beat Washington, DC most clearly?: San Jose, CA ranks far ahead on Murder Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 2.4 vs 16.6; Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 95.4% vs 91.2%; Poverty Rate (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 8.12% vs 15.4%.
Where does Washington, DC beat San Jose, CA most clearly?: Washington, DC ranks far ahead on Burglary Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 193.3 vs 336.8; Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 106.7 vs 156.7; Price Level (Housing Rents) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 151.1 vs 211.9.

More matchups

Other comparisons with San Jose, CA or Washington, DC.

All US cities matchups