Seattle, WA vs San Jose, CA: where should you move?
Seattle: No income tax + full amenity stack; price and gray are the toll. San Jose: Tech wages required; schools are elite.
Dimension
Seattle
San Jose
Median home price
$745K
$1584K
Effective property tax
0.87%
0.75%
Tax friendliness
9/10
2/10
Winter mildness
5/10
8/10
Summer comfort
9/10
9/10
Walkability
6/10
7/10
Outdoor access
10/10
8/10
Culture & food
8/10
8/10
Healthcare
10/10
9/10
Airport connectivity
9/10
8/10
Schools
8/10
9/10
Safety
6/10
7/10
Hazard safety (10 = lowest risk)
4/10
3/10
Growth trajectory
7/10
5/10
Pick Seattle if your priorities lean: Median home price, Tax friendliness, Outdoor access, Healthcare. Pick San Jose if they lean: Effective property tax, Winter mildness, Walkability, Schools. There is no universal winner — only a winner for your weights.