2025 Compare Cities Economy:
San Jose, CA vs San Rafael, CA

Change Cities
Highlights
- Household income in San Rafael, is 16% less than it is in San Jose and is 34% above the National Average.
- San Jose unemployment rate is 5.6%.
- San Rafael unemployment rate is 4.7%.
 San Jose, CASan Rafael, CAUnited States
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.7%6.0%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock1.4%1.6%
 Future Job Growth38.9%  Unlock33.5%
 Sales Taxes9.3%  Unlock6.2%
 Income Taxes  Unlock8.0%4.6%
 Income per Cap.$53,574  Unlock$37,638
 Household Income  Unlock$104,521$69,021
 Family Median Income$138,908  Unlock$85,028
 space
 Est. Households By Income
 San Jose, CASan Rafael, CAUnited States
 Income Less Than 15K  Unlock6.3%9.4%
 Income between 15K and 20K2.1%  Unlock3.8%
 Income between 20K and 30K  Unlock4.6%8.1%
 Income between 30K and 40K4.3%  Unlock8.0%
 Income between 40K and 50K  Unlock6.0%7.6%
 Income between 50K and 60K4.4%  Unlock7.2%
 Income between 60K and 75K  Unlock6.8%9.6%
 Income between 75K and 100K9.9%  Unlock12.8%
 Income between 100K and 150K  Unlock17.7%16.3%
 Income between 150K and 200K13.2%  Unlock7.8%
 Income greater than 200K  Unlock24.3%9.5%
 space1
 Population By Occupation
 San Jose, CASan Rafael, CAUnited States
 Management, business, finance18.5%  Unlock16.4%
 Engineering, computers, science  Unlock7.3%6.5%
 Community, social services1.1%  Unlock1.8%
 Legal  Unlock1.7%1.2%
 Education, library5.2%  Unlock6.2%
 Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment  Unlock4.5%2.0%
 Healthcare practitioners and technology4.1%  Unlock6.2%
 Healthcare support  Unlock2.7%3.3%
 Firefighters, law enforcement1.6%  Unlock2.1%
 Food preparation, serving  Unlock5.2%5.4%
 Building maintenance3.7%  Unlock3.6%
 Personal care  Unlock3.6%2.6%
 Sales, office, administrative support17.3%  Unlock20.9%
 Farming, fishing, forestry  Unlock1.1%0.6%
 Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair6.6%  Unlock8.1%
 Production, transportation, material moving  Unlock7.1%13.1%
Reviews for San Jose    90 Reviews

I've lived in west San Jose/Cambrian, between Los Gatos and Almaden SJ since 1997. This side of town somehow avoided the erosion of the American dream. Houses are  More

   |    Reply

I lived in San Jose for 40 years. That’s during the most exciting time when the Silicon Valley was booming with real technology and San Jose was ranked as the safest big  More

   |    Reply

Over 4 years ago

I've lived in San Jose, CA for 25 years. This city is being over run with crime and gangs. The cost of living is very high. Granted, you are so close to mountains,  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of San Jose

Reviews for San Rafael    7 Reviews

Over 13 years ago

San Rafael is only 30 minutes from downtown San Francisco, but the weather is completely different. It's sunny most of the year, including in the summer when the city  More

   |    Reply

Over 15 years ago

I feal very safe in this town. I think getting stopped for talking on your cell phone while driving is a big deal here. Thats about all I can  More

   |    Reply

Over 17 years ago

Cost of living too high. Unfriendly  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of San Rafael


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.