The Capital of Silicon Valley. What's there not to love about this thriving Californian City? You get to witness a rich, diverse culture, gorgeous natural landscape, perfect weather, and most of all, its tech world.
College graduates and young professionals call San Jose home, the working class and retirees want to have a taste, and the young and old would love to get a feel of the city—you just have to love San Jose.
It's honestly a great place to live in, and it beats even your wildest imagination.
Double your expectations and prepare your wallets as you go through the created San Jose local's guide into all the best parts of living in this city.
What are interesting facts about San Jose?
It's the largest city in California
It has the second-longest life expectancy in the U.S., averaging 84.55 years
San Jose has the largest Vietnamese population outside of Vietnam
The city leads in patent generation in the U.S.
More than half the adult population has a college degree.
Among most expensive housing markets in the U.S.
As one of the leading cities in the U.S. tech space, San Jose truly is the hub of everything the 21st century is supposed to be.
Innovators, economists, and world-renowned contributors to global impacts—it all lies here!
The city's economy houses over 6,000 tech companies and start-ups, which have made San Jose what it is today. With big names like Google, PayPal, eBay, Cisco, Apple, and Verifone calling the shots here, it's a paradise for anyone looking for employment opportunities in the tech space.
Median Household Income: $136,010
1-yr Job Growth: 2.5%
Unemployment Rate: 2.3%
Poverty Rate: 7.9%
While it seems as though the city mostly has young and techy locals, there are more perks of diversity here than you can imagine. It's often said that San Jose is the city that paves the successful roads for migrants with equal access to locals.
Population: 1,036,332
Median Age: 39 years
Here's a fact: you'll meet people from various walks of life, engage with different cultural activities, and witness festivities like nothing else—it's literally the largest multicultural area in Silicon Valley.
Ask anyone around, even the local movers, the thriving system, and life in San Jose don't come cheap!
While it might be 25% and 75% higher than both state and national averages, every penny spent here is worth it. Sure, the pricing on its real estate could cause a bit of worry, but when you look at its architectural marvels, it's impossible not to want to pay for them.
Average House Rent: $2,954
Median Home Value: $1.4 million
Mortgage Rate: 7.08%
But then you remember that as a resident of the city, you are automatically amongst the highest earners in the country, which makes affording life much easier.
Simply look at the bright side: you're in a wealthy city with plenty of good employment opportunities, a plethora of multi-million dollar homes around you, and unending entertainment.
Don't know about you, but the sunshine in San Jose is alluring for many locals and migrants in the city.
As part of the San Jose local's guide, expect to experience fantastic warm and dry sunny weather in the summer, with temperatures averaging highs in the 70s. Winters, on the other hand, are cool and mild, with low temperatures in the 50s.
Average Season Temperature
Winter — 53°
Fall — 65°
Spring — 61°
Summer — 73°
If you're coming from a colder climate, it's best you leave the heavy jackets and snow shovels behind — it's mostly sunny, about 300 days of it yearly.
Moreover, the good news for outdoor enthusiasts and shorts lovers is that there is more time for outdoor fun and less rainfall (barely 17 inches annually).
What makes San Jose unique? As long as you're up, the fun never stops for you!
If it isn't the cool weather or tech hub causing the high influx of new residents, it certainly is its variety of entertainment options.
Whether it's a concert, sporting event, friendly visit to the museums, or just strolling to the park with your dog, there are endless ways to classify fun here.
When it comes to festivals, the San Jose local's guide has got you covered with all the best ones.
Here are some of the best ones to experience:
Learn about filmmaking at the San Jose International Short Film Festival.
Shop for arts, crafts, and plenty of deliciousness during the San Jose Jazz Summer Fest.
Listen to music and celebrate Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) at Dia San Jose.
Enjoy Japantown's food booths and drummers during the Obon Festival.
Note:
There are many other cool activities for kids, families, couples, and singles around San Jose.
Ever thought Japanese and Vietnamese food would turn out to be your favorite dish? Well, for the locals here in San Jose, it's a lovely, learned cuisine.
If you want to grab a bite for yourself, head down to Jackson Street downtown and get a good chunk of authentic Japanese delicacies. Perhaps you are craving some Vietnamese Pho; just stop by the Pho Kim Long restaurant.
Maybe you want to give other meals a go? Then, visit any of the other cool restaurants like:
Orchard City Kitchen for American meals
Butchers Korean BBQ for Korean dishes
LaForet of Le Papillon for French cuisines
Acopio for Mexican delicacies
Is San Jose a good place to raise children? The simple answer: yes!
A closer look at the San Jose local's guide highlights the presence of top-rated schools across the state and even the country. Whether it's a public, private, or charter school, the city has it all—and does it well.
Stanford University, the University of California, Santa Cruz, and San Jose State University; three rank among the best in the U.S. and are all within the area.
Perhaps your focus is more toward elementary, middle, and high schools, but there are still enough well-ranked few to pick from.
Your best choices for your kids can include:
Hammer Montessori At Galarza Elementary School
Rocketship Rising Stars
Union Middle School
KIPP Heartwood Academy
Lynbrook High School
If you already didn't know, San Jose is all about going green!
A decade ago, the city began its The Green Vision plan as part of its economic motive to foster good environmental impact for better climate conditions.
A major effort noticeable as a local here is the city's keen interest in promoting the use of electric vehicles and investment in clean energy. It's simply one of those unique perks of San Jose that make it even more wonderful.
Then, there's the Bring Your Own Bag Ordinance. The idea is about cutting down on plastic waste and promoting reusable bags when making random purchases in the city.
Note:
Just in case you forget your reusable tote bag when coming, you can as well pay a fee of about $0.10 for one in the city.
Whatever you think you might have heard about San Jose, there are more fantastic things to discover.
While it's true that San Jose is a difficult city to live in financially, the endless fun and possibilities make it worthwhile. Sure, a San Jose local's guide can give you good hints on what to expect, but there's nothing like really feeling it for yourself.
So, spare no time and make that plan to come visit or relocate to the Capital of Silicon Valley and become a part of a thriving tech space.
