Source: Wikipedia
San Jose is not a place for the poor or struggling. The homes are expensive and many of the jobs are reserved for people that work in computer science. It is, however, one of the safest places in the United States. Deciding whether or not you should move there will be largely based on your income. If that’s not your major concern, then you’re probably a good candidate for the area. Here’s our brief breakdown on San Jose.
Public Safety
Voted as the 7th safest U.S city by Forbes, San Jose’s violent crime rates have been lower than the US national average since 1999. In 2011, there were 25,178 crimes when the population of the city was at 958,000. Out of all of those crimes, only 3206 were violent crimes. The rest were property crimes including larceny and vehicle theft. Again, compared to some of the nation’s other cities, these are pretty low numbers.
Of course, all crime, no matter how minor, should be a concern. The San Jose police Department has a headlines section of their website that alerts residents when there’s a situation in the area that they should be on the lookout for.
So, yes, San Jose is definitely a safe place to live.
Employment
The current unemployment rate in San Jose is just over 8 percent. That number was at an all-time high in January 2010 when the rate was 13 percent, so the current numbers aren’t bad when you compare them with the worst times. The unemployment rate in the city is also seen a steady decrease since 2010.
If you have a background in computer engineering, then this would be the perfect place to live, as the city of San Jose is considered part of Silicon Valley. Adobe Systems and HP Pavilion are among the many high profile tech companies in the area. There are also a number of service jobs available. Customer service reps, and medical staffing positions are more recently more prevalent. Healthcare jobs in general are on the rise in the U.S, mainly because of the lack of qualified people to fill the positions, so this trend is really not exclusive to San Jose. Nevertheless, you can find healthcare jobs in the city. Now, whether or not the job will actually pay enough for you to live comfortably is a different subject.
Cost of Living
In 2011, the cost of living in San Jose was 48 percent above the national average and the average home price was $570K. Today, the average home costs $640,000, making the city one of the most expensive places to live in the U.S. Even with a good tech job, you would need an income of at least $85,000 to live comfortably without a family. Families would need at least $120,000 to afford a comfortable lifestyle here. If you’re not making that amount, and you still want to live in the area, you would need to look at other housing options besides buying. A decent one bedroom apartment costs about $1500 per month. Living here is very expensive, but if you can afford it, go for it.
Schools and Education
San Jose schools receive a 6 out 10 rating from Great Schools, which bases their numbers on student test scores from around the nation. The school district includes a host of elementary, middle, and high schools, but it also has a Home Studies program aimed at an alternative way to educate children. Connections Academy and K12, two of the nation’s highly regarded online public schools, also offer educational opportunities for students in grades kindergarten through twelfth grade.
San Jose State University offers 69 different bachelor’s degree programs, and 65 different master’s degree programs. Other universities in the area include Berkeley, and the University of California. So, whether you’re interested in k-12 schools or colleges, you can get a good education in San Jose.
Pollution
Since 1999, San Jose has had relatively decent air quality. While their numbers were definitely higher that the rest of the state, overall there is no real health concern in the area. You can safely take a deep breath and not worry about dying 20 years later. A 2011 water quality report also showed no immediate needs for concern.
To Move or Not to Move
San Jose is safe, but it’s a very expensive place to live. If you can afford it, then it’s definitely a city to settle down in. The average American doesn’t make enough money to live there, so you may want to consider that before you start looking for homes. If you were to lose part of your income, you are at a much higher risk of being homeless as opposed to living in an area where there’s “financial wiggle room” for unexpected emergencies. Of course, if you can snag one of the tech jobs at Adobe or Ebay, you should able to survive. Just make sure you aren’t working in the mail room.
