BestCityFor

Best city for retirement? San Jose, CA

F
Score
33/100
Rank #190 (top 200 cities)
Data: ACS 2023 (5-year)

For retirement, San Jose is a specialized pick when you value broadband subscription alongside median household income. Overall, it’s not a top-ranked option in this set (#190 of 200), so fit matters. The biggest tradeoff is typical rent (2br).

Methodology · Sources · CA rankings

Scope note (city proper)

This page scores the incorporated city limits (Census “Place”), not the metro area. Popular retirement destinations can look very different at the metro level.

Why San Jose ranks here

  • Median household income: $141,565 (87% higher than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Broadband subscription: 95% (4% higher than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Age 65+ share: 14% (4% higher than the national median; better for this metric).

Watch-outs

  • Typical rent (2BR): $2,683/mo (86% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Typical home value: $1,187,800 (241% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).

City snapshot

Basic demographics from ACS 2023 (city proper).

Population
990,054
Estimated total population (ACS).
Male vs female
Male 51%Female 49%

Key metrics

Values shown are from ACS 2023. National medians are computed across the ranked city set.

Typical rent (2BR)
$2,683/mo
National median: $1,441/mo
Typical home value
$1,187,800
National median: $347,900
Age 65+ share
14%
National median: 14%
Median age
38
National median: —
Median household income
$141,565
National median: $75,598
Broadband subscription
95%
National median: 91%

Score breakdown (by category)

Category scores are 0–100 and summarize groups of metrics used in the final score.

City
National median (dataset)
Affordability
Typical 2BR rent and typical home value.
0/100
Retiree Signals
Age mix and income as broad service proxies.
57/100
Connectivity
Broadband access for everyday logistics.
95/100
Comfort
Climate comfort and commute friction.
83/100

Education (age 25+)

Share of adults by attainment (ACS).

14%
Less than HS
39%
HS / Some college
26%
Bachelor’s
20%
Advanced

Age mix

Share of residents age 65+ (ACS).

14%
Age 65+
86%
Under 65

Internet access

Household broadband subscription (ACS).

95%
Broadband
5%
No broadband

Map

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Scorecard breakdown

Bars are rescaled to 0–100 for readability (percentage metrics use their actual percent).

City
National median (dataset)
Typical rent (2BR)
National median $1,441/mo
$2,683/mo
Typical home value
National median $347,900
$1,187,800
Age 65+ share
National median 14%
14%
Median household income
National median $75,598
$141,565
Broadband subscription
National median 91%
95%
Commute 45+ min share
National median 11%
17%

Similar cities (by score)

#188 Long Beach, CA
34/100
#189 Sunnyvale, CA
33/100
#191 Glendale, CA
33/100
#192 Pasadena, CA
32/100

FAQ

›What is San Jose’s retirement score and rank?
San Jose, CA scores F (33/100) and ranks #190 out of the top 200 US cities in this dataset.
›Is this based on San Jose city proper or the metro area?
City proper (incorporated place). This uses Census ‘Place’ boundaries, not the metro area. Metro-level retirement patterns can differ a lot from the city itself.
›What is the population of San Jose, CA?
Population is about 990,054 (ACS 2023, city proper).
›What is the male vs female split in San Jose, CA?
About 51% male and 49% female (ACS 2023).
›How affordable is housing in San Jose, CA?
Typical rent (2BR) is $2,683/mo (national median: $1,441/mo). Typical home value is $1,187,800 (national median: $347,900).
›What share of residents are 65+ in San Jose, CA?
Age 65+ share is 14% (national median: 14%).
›How common is broadband internet in San Jose, CA?
Broadband subscription is 95% of households (national median: 91%).
›What does the education mix look like in San Jose, CA?
Among adults 25+, the shares are roughly: less than HS 14%, HS/some college 39%, bachelor’s 26%, advanced 20%.
›Where does this data come from for San Jose, CA?
Metrics are from Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates (city proper / incorporated place), with optional NOAA climate normals when available.

Note: Scores are informational and depend on data coverage and methodology. Always validate against your personal constraints (healthcare access, neighborhoods, taxes, climate preferences, support network).