The San Jose metro area: San Benito and Santa Clara counties · Population 1,969,337 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in the San Jose area
Household size in the San Jose area
| Period | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.97 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.05 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.07 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.96 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.00 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
The San Jose area is a place of big households: 2.96 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Households are largest in the east and smallest in the northwest.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in the San Jose area
| Period | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.6 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.5 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.4 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.8 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in the San Jose area are younger than 39.4 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 36.6 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the center and oldest in the south.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in the San Jose area
| Period | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.4% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.0% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in the San Jose area than nationally: 9.0%, against 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 1.3 points, as it has nationally. Only five of the 100 large U.S. metro areas have a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in the San Jose area
Renters in the San Jose area
| Period | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.6% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 42.9% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 43.4% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 44.5% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is more common in the San Jose area than nationally: 44.5% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Among homeowners, 33.6% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 3.9 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 100 large U.S. metro areas, only three have a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in the San Jose area
| Period | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.2% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 4.9% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.6% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in the San Jose area than nationally: 6.4%, against 9.6% for the U.S. California comes in at about the same level. The San Jose area has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of large metro areas.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in the San Jose area
| Period | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1973 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1974 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1975 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1977 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in the San Jose area are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1977, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1973 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the north, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in the San Jose area
| Period | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,524 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,670 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,389 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,873 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,348 | +$931 | +$606 |
Rent in the San Jose area runs $2,873 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,348 a month since 2006–10, up 88%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 29.7% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. No other large metro area has higher rents.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in the San Jose area
Bachelor's degrees in the San Jose area
| Period | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.9% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 46.5% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 51.6% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 55.3% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +11.5 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in the San Jose area: 55.3% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 11.5 points, as it has nationally. No other large metro area has a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in the San Jose area
| Period | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.5% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.4% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.1% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.0% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in the San Jose area have finished high school as nationally: 89.0%, against 89.3%. The rate is higher than in California overall (84.2%). The share with a diploma is up 3.4 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in the San Jose area
| Period | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.4% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in the San Jose area is close to the national rate: 4.9% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is lower than in California overall (6.6%). Unemployment has fallen 3.0 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Largest cities in the San Jose area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose area (all) | 2.96 | 39.4 | 9.0% | 44.5% | 6.4% | 1977 | $2,873 | 55.3% | 89.0% | 4.9% |
| Sunnyvale | 2.60 | 37.6 | 6.5% | 56.1% | 5.6% | 1977 | $3,105 | 69.6% | 94.5% | 4.8% |
| Santa Clara | 2.57 | 36.3 | 5.1% | 58.4% | 6.7% | 1977 | $2,986 | 66.4% | 93.4% | 4.9% |
| Mountain View | 2.42 | 36.8 | 6.4% | 62.4% | 9.8% | 1977 | $3,009 | 74.6% | 95.0% | 3.7% |
| Milpitas | 3.09 | 38.6 | 7.9% | 43.3% | 4.8% | 1988 | $3,083 | 60.7% | 90.0% | 3.8% |
| Palo Alto | 2.64 | 44.2 | 6.1% | 45.5% | 10.9% | 1964 | $3,187 | 82.7% | 96.8% | 4.2% |
| Gilroy | 3.43 | 37.8 | 15.5% | 37.2% | 5.0% | 1986 | $2,451 | 27.6% | 82.5% | 6.1% |
| Cupertino | 2.80 | 42.2 | 4.5% | 40.7% | 6.4% | 1974 | $3,364 | 81.8% | 97.1% | 4.1% |
| Hollister | 3.36 | 35.3 | 16.3% | 31.4% | 3.8% | 1990 | $1,971 | 23.4% | 83.8% | 5.5% |
| Morgan Hill | 3.13 | 40.0 | 12.3% | 29.2% | 5.8% | 1988 | $2,798 | 45.1% | 90.4% | 5.2% |
| Campbell | 2.60 | 40.5 | 10.7% | 48.5% | 7.0% | 1973 | $2,855 | 60.0% | 93.7% | 5.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: Oklahoma City area · Milwaukee area · Jacksonville area · Providence area · Virginia Beach area · Nashville area · Indianapolis area · Columbus area · Cleveland area · Kansas City area
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up the San Jose area. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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