San Jose, CA

San José, the capital of Silicon Valley, is renowned for its tech and innovation sectors. But, the beautiful city is much more than just a tech hub. It’s family-friendly too! In addition to interesting attractions such as the Happy Hollow Park & Zoo and the Children’s Discovery Museum of San José, this beautiful seaside city is also home to several architectural landmarks including the Oddfellows Building and the Winchester Mansion.

The median home value in San José is approximately $1.13 million. And, the average sale price per square foot is $731. The San José housing market is extremely competitive. This year, the San José metro area listed about 20% fewer homes on the real estate market, and home prices have climbed up to 7.5%.

The skyrocketing prices are a result of a limited supply of houses. There’s an ongoing housing shortage throughout the Bay Area. A house for sale in San José generally receives four offers from prospective buyers. The average time a house sells is in 28 days.

The median apartment rent in San José runs to about $3,031. Keep in mind that the rental cost varies depending on the location, size of the house, and property features.

City highlights

San José is nicknamed the capital of Silicon Valley and boasts several top tech and financial companies in the world. As compared to other cities in the United States, San José has more millionaires per capita. It’s no wonder that the affluent city has one of the most expensive housing markets in the country.

The city is high on everybody’s list when it comes to desirability, quality of life, innovative spirit, and the job market. The diverse city has a great mix of suburban neighborhoods and large tech campuses. There’s the sprawling business district on one hand and quirky attractions such as the maze-like Winchester Mystery House, a huge flea market complete, and a larger-than-life Monopoly board on the other.

Geographic location

San José is situated in the Santa Clara Valley. It’s cradled by the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains and Diablo Range. It enjoys close proximity to the ocean, the Sierra Nevada, and the vast vineyards. San José happens to be Northern California’s largest city.

Climate

The summers are long, hot, dry, and mainly clear in San José, while the winters are brief, cold, damp, and partially cloudy. The average annual temperature ranges between 43°F and 82°F – rarely falling below 35°F or rising above 92°F.The city hardly ever experiences any rain. Because of this, the residents have to deal with droughts, water shortages, and yellow lawns. But the good news is that San José residents enjoy about 300 sunny days in a year.

Demography

San José has a population of approximately 1.03 million. It is the 10th largest city in the U.S. and the third largest city in California. The population has increased by 1.99% since the last census and is now rising at a rate of 0.66% annually. The ethnic makeup in the diverse city is 37.3% Asian, 31% Hispanic, and 24.4% White.

Cost of Living

San José has one of the highest costs of living in the country. The IT boom has increased employment, but it has also rendered most of the metro region unaffordable for individuals who don’t earn very high salaries. The cost of living in this area is far greater than it is in the majority of other regions of the nation. It is 49% higher than the national average, and housing prices are 81% higher than the national average.

San José locals frequently find themselves spending more than the average American household for basic needs such as groceries, utilities, and gas.

Fortunately, the median household income runs to about $113,000 – which is quite a good figure.

Transportation

The city offers the convenience of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority light rail and bus system to its residents. For those living just outside the city, there’s the Caltrain which connects San José to San Francisco. Apart from the public transportation options, many tech companies have regular shuttles to their campuses for employees. However, many of the San Joséans still rely on personal cars to take them from point A to B. The busy city is infamous for its traffic congestion.

Although San José is not a walkable city, most of the suburban neighborhoods are pedestrian-friendly. There are wide sidewalks, plenty of crosswalks, and tree-lined streets for regular walkers.

Schools

San José schools have an average ranking of 8/10 and are considered in the top 30% bracket of all California public schools. The San José Unified School District has a total of 42 schools. Some of the best schools include Lynbrook High School, James Franklin Smith Elementary School, Joaquin Miller Middle School, Union Middle School, Evergreen Valley High School, Branham High School, KIPP Heartwood Academy, and University Preparatory Academy Charter.

What is the city like?

San José is the heart of Silicon Valley – the financial and cultural center. San José residents can experience an urban-suburban vibe as the city maintains its quirky personality despite being one of the world’s most significant business centers. Most of the locals own their homes.

You can enjoy fancy restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. The highly rated public schools and the amazing job prospects for IT professionals make this place perfect for young professionals and families. What’s more, the city has one of the lowest crime rates around. It is one of the safest cities in the State of California.

If you’re looking for a family-friendly place that’s known for its innovation, cultural diversity, affluence, and sunny weather – San José is the place to be.