When people dream of California, they dream of someplace like San Jose. An hour south of San Francisco, in the heart of Silicon Valley, San Jose is abuzz with opportunity. Fresh ideas and young talent are everywhere. And while its cost of living may be high, so are its salaries. The average household brings in over $117,000, compared to $78,000 for the rest of the country.
The city’s added jobs at twice the national rate for the past ten years and its unemployment is 1.5 percent below most American cities. Not surprisingly, technology is the main driver. There are over 6,600 tech firms operating in or around the city, including Apple, Google, Netflix, Oracle, Cisco, Amazon, eBay, Adobe, Intel, Hitachi, Verifone, Sage, and Western Digital ‒ all paying good money for skilled coders and project managers.
However, there’s strong demand for financial, manufacturing, and healthcare workers as well. A registered nurse can make over $112,000 a year in the city hospitals! But money isn’t the only reason people are moving to San Jose. It’s rich, but also peaceful, charming, and diverse ‒ one of the most exciting places to live in the country.
San Jose is a city for young families as well as young professionals. The booming economy has allowed it to invest heavily in schools, parks, and public safety. Its education system is one of the best in the state, with strong academics, high graduation rates, and low student-teacher ratios. Most graduates go on to pursue higher education in local colleges or universities, such as Stanford and San Jose State University, renowned for its computer science, business, engineering, nursing, and marketing programs.
After school, parents and children relax and explore the city’s parks. San Jose has cultivated green space all across town, most notably:
Alongside its great parks, San Jose also has some of the safest streets in California. Besides combating robbery and violent crimes, the police have special units for school and child safety, as well as quality of life crimes such as vandalism, trespassing, and blighted property. They even helped introduce community policing back in the 1990s. As a result of this proactive approach, crime has remained well below the rest of the state. In fact, San Jose is America’s 4th safest city with more than 500,000 residents.
San Jose is surrounded. There are rolling hills to the east. Magnificent beaches to the west. And sun-drenched mountains on either side. Black Mountain and Mount Umunhum are particularly popular for their spectacular views and incredible landscape. San Joseans can hike, ride, and camp amid woodland forests, sprawling grasslands, cool ravines, and seasonal brooks winding their way through the countryside.
And unlike cities further north, San Joseans can get out and enjoy themselves practically year-round, thanks to the incredible weather. Summers are warm, but not hot; winters are cool, but not cold. Even in December, the average high rarely dips below 60°F.
And despite a few scattered rain storms, the weather is mostly clear. The city enjoys 300 days of sun every year, which means plenty of opportunities for backpacking, trail running, horseback riding, mountain biking, and other forms of outdoor recreation.
Living in San Jose means there’s always a lot to do and see. The city’s packed with attractions, including:
San Jose welcomes and celebrates diverse cultures. It’s home to one of the country's last remaining Japantowns, a place where people can immerse themselves in the history, traditions, and artwork of Japanese Americans. Learn about the community’s struggles at the Japanese American Museum. Try authentic ramen and sushi, served fresh at restaurants throughout the district. Sing your heart out at a karaoke bar or witness the grace and majesty of Obon, a Buddhist festival honoring the spirits of their ancestors, held every August.
San Jose’s Little Saigon is home to the largest Vietnamese community outside of Vietnam. At the Viet Museum or Museum of the Boat People & the Republic of Vietnam, you’ll hear the story of the brave Vietnamese who fled to America after the end of the Vietnam War. Explore the Friendship Garden or shop at Vietnam Town, one of the city’s up-and-coming retail districts. Purchase unique, East Asian products then grab lunch at one of the center's pho restaurants. Tet, the traditional Vietnamese New Year, is celebrated every January and February, at Lion Plaza, the heart of the neighborhood. Witness the joy and heritage of the Vietnamese community as they welcome the new year with firecrackers, lion dancers, and strings of Chinese lanterns.
At Mexican Heritage Plaza, you’ll experience the art and culture of San Jose’s Hispanic community. Their music and dance programs help preserve Mexico’s indigenous culture, passing it down through the generations in a series of brilliant public performances held throughout the year. The community comes together to commemorate its pioneers and civil rights leaders, as well as Mexican Independence Day and Dia de Los Muertos. All people are welcome to share in the festivities and learn more about Mexican food, history, and folklore.
Most Californians are reliant on their cars, but not San Joseans. The city’s extensive public transit system makes it easy to travel to and from downtown without hopping in an automobile. Catch a bus or jump aboard the city’s light rail network - it’s one of the easiest and fastest ways to navigate the city.
Or save a few bucks and go by bike. The city’s bike paths are 285 miles long and connect almost every neighborhood and park, not to mention the business district. An additional 215 miles are currently being added, which will make the city even more bike friendly. Residents who don’t have a bike can rent one from the Bay Area Bike Share, the first large-scale bicycle sharing program in California, designed to facilitate faster, cleaner, and cheaper travel throughout San Francisco Bay.
Whether you’re moving to San Jose for personal or business reasons, trust Allied to get you there. For the past 85 years, we’ve helped families transport their households long distance, from one side of the country to the other. Our teams help you pack, load, and store your most valuable belongings. With agents operating in every state, you can be sure of personal, on-the-ground support no matter where you go. Contact us today for a free quote!
