City vs city
Austin, TX vs San Jose, CA
- Rent is 54% lower in Austin (median $1,729/mo vs $2,669/mo in San Jose).
- Homes cost 122% less in Austin ($555k vs $1.2M median value).
- On a $75k salary, you'd have about $1,185 more a month after taxes and rent in Austin.
- Austin has no state income tax on wages; San Jose does.
- Schools rate higher in Austin (5.2/10 vs 4.3/10).
- Austin has less violent crime (4.2 vs 5.1 per 1,000 residents; the US rate is 3.6).
- San Jose gets more sun (257 vs 228 sunny days a year).
| Austin | San Jose | |
|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,729/mo | $2,669/mo |
| Median home value | $555k | $1.23M |
| Median household income | $94k | $146k |
| Left each month on $75k (after taxes and rent) | $3,404 | $2,219 |
| State income tax on wages | None | Yes |
| School rating | 5.2/10 | 4.3/10 |
| Violent crime | 1.2× the US rate | 1.4× the US rate |
| Summer average | 98°F | 81°F |
| Winter average | 52°F | 51°F |
| Sunny days a year | 228 | 257 |
| Walk score | 42 | 52 |
| Population | 979,539 | 990,138 |
Population, income, home value and rent: U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Taxes: single filer, 2026 federal and state rates, before any city income tax. Violent crime per 1,000 residents; US rate 3.6.
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