City Lifestyle Index
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SIDE-BY-SIDE ANALYSIS

Compare U.S. Cities

Choose between two and four cities. Add only the cities you want to compare.

Your comparisonSelect at least 2 cities and no more than 4.
CITY VS CITY

See the lifestyle trade-offs at a glance

Longer bars indicate a stronger score for that category. Modeled baselines are labeled separately from verified research.

VS
California

San Jose

Modeled lifestyle baseline
71.0/100

Best forBest for people who want more jobs, culture and amenities while keeping regional nature within reach.

California

San Francisco

Modeled lifestyle baseline
71.4/100

Best forBest for people who want more jobs, culture and amenities while keeping regional nature within reach.

California

San Diego

Modeled lifestyle baseline
72.5/100

Best forBest for people who want more jobs, culture and amenities while keeping regional nature within reach.

Highest overall in this comparison
New York

New York

Verified lifestyle score
48.6/100

Best forCar-light living • arts & culture • ambitious careers

DECISION SUMMARY

San Diego leads the current overall index.

Use the category battles below to decide whether the overall leader also wins on the parts of life that matter most to you. For a personal answer, run the Lifestyle Match quiz and weight these metrics yourself.

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METRIC BATTLE

Compare the 15 lifestyle dimensions

Cost of Living
San Jose41.4
San Francisco40.8
San Diego38.5
New York20.0
Housing
San Jose38.1
San Francisco41.4
San Diego38.0
New York23.4
Safety
San Jose56.0
San Francisco57.2
San Diego57.6
New York49.2
Job Market
San Jose89.3
San Francisco85.7
San Diego94.0
New York32.4
Income
San Jose81.5
San Francisco86.2
San Diego91.1
New York41.7
Education
San Jose81.8
San Francisco80.6
San Diego79.3
New York39.3
Healthcare
San Jose81.8
San Francisco77.6
San Diego87.3
New York92.8
Transportation
San Jose80.3
San Francisco85.8
San Diego81.3
New York50.2
Walkability
San Jose91.1
San Francisco90.6
San Diego89.2
New York88.0
Climate
San Jose74.0
San Francisco82.0
San Diego78.0
New York79.7
Air Quality
San Jose65.8
San Francisco65.0
San Diego64.5
New York41.9
Entertainment
San Jose94.0
San Francisco91.8
San Diego94.0
New York29.8
Family Friendly
San Jose65.8
San Francisco56.0
San Diego64.5
New York61.6
Remote Work
San Jose83.3
San Francisco85.9
San Diego91.1
New York48.7
Outdoor Lifestyle
San Jose81.5
San Francisco84.6
San Diego82.3
New York66.6
QUICK FACTS

Details side by side

CategorySan JoseCaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaSan DiegoCaliforniaNew YorkNew York
Best forBest for people who want more jobs, culture and amenities while keeping regional nature within reach.Best for people who want more jobs, culture and amenities while keeping regional nature within reach.Best for people who want more jobs, culture and amenities while keeping regional nature within reach.Car-light living • arts & culture • ambitious careers
Everyday vibeSan Jose has a big-city lifestyle with water-oriented neighborhoods, regional food culture and an outdoors-forward rhythm.San Francisco has a big-city lifestyle with water-oriented neighborhoods, regional food culture and an outdoors-forward rhythm.San Diego has a big-city lifestyle with water-oriented neighborhoods, regional food culture and an outdoors-forward rhythm.Fast-paced, walkable and culture-rich urban living with energy from early morning through late night.
Culture & foodExpect the strongest lifestyle character to come from local food, neighborhood events, regional traditions and the city’s own arts and social scene.Expect the strongest lifestyle character to come from local food, neighborhood events, regional traditions and the city’s own arts and social scene.Expect the strongest lifestyle character to come from local food, neighborhood events, regional traditions and the city’s own arts and social scene.A deeply international food scene, major performing arts, galleries and distinct neighborhood identities.
OutdoorsCoastlines, waterfronts, parks and scenic day trips are the main nature lens for this baseline profile.Coastlines, waterfronts, parks and scenic day trips are the main nature lens for this baseline profile.Coastlines, waterfronts, parks and scenic day trips are the main nature lens for this baseline profile.Large urban parks, waterfront greenways and easy rail access to beaches, trails and weekend escapes.
MobilityDaily mobility is likely to vary sharply by neighborhood; compare transit, walkability and driving needs before choosing where to live.Daily mobility is likely to vary sharply by neighborhood; compare transit, walkability and driving needs before choosing where to live.Daily mobility is likely to vary sharply by neighborhood; compare transit, walkability and driving needs before choosing where to live.Transit and walking can cover most daily needs in many neighborhoods, making car ownership optional for many residents.
Weekend rhythmWeekends can mix local dining and neighborhood events with coastlines, waterfronts, parks and scenic day trips.Weekends can mix local dining and neighborhood events with coastlines, waterfronts, parks and scenic day trips.Weekends can mix local dining and neighborhood events with coastlines, waterfronts, parks and scenic day trips.Neighborhood cafés, museums, parks, live shows, waterfront walks and exploring a different borough.
Population989,814826,0791,406,1068,584,629
Research statusModeled lifestyle baselineModeled lifestyle baselineModeled lifestyle baselineVerified lifestyle score