City comparison
Yes. San Jose's crime index is 157 versus 221 in Toledo, and its violent crime index is 161 versus 279, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Toledo is cheaper. Median rent is $934 a month versus $2,669 in San Jose.
The income gap between San Jose and Toledo is significant: $146,427 median household versus $62,224. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,669 in San Jose and $934 in Toledo.
San Jose is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Toledo makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone San Jose is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Toledo at $934 average has pockets that run $734 and others at $1,334: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Jose and Toledo are 2,049 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,669 a month in San Jose to $934 a month in Toledo, down $1,735 a month (65%).
Median household income goes from $146,427 in San Jose to $62,224 in Toledo, down $84,203 (58%).
The crime index goes from 157 in San Jose to 221 in Toledo, up 64 points (41%).
The move
Toledo and San Jose are 2,049 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $934 a month in Toledo to $2,669 a month in San Jose, up $1,735 a month (186%).
Median household income goes from $62,224 in Toledo to $146,427 in San Jose, up $84,203 (135%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Toledo to 157 in San Jose, down 64 points (29%).
San Jose, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Toledo, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Jose and Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
65% cheaper
Toledo rent is 65% cheaper than San Jose
San Jose
$2,669/mo
Toledo
Winner$934/mo
Typical rent runs $934 a month in Toledo versus $2,669 in San Jose, so Toledo is 65% cheaper. That's roughly $1,735/month back in your pocket ($20,820/year). Over five years that's $104,100 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in San Jose, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Toledo is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in San Jose? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
135% higher
San Jose's median income is 135% higher than Toledo
San Jose
Winner$146,427
Toledo
$62,224
Median household income is $146,427 in San Jose versus $62,224 in Toledo, so typical pay runs 135% higher in San Jose (about $84,203 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, San Jose is the stronger labor market on paper. Toledo can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
29% lower crime
San Jose's crime index is 29% lower than Toledo
San Jose
Winner157 (100 = avg)
Toledo
221 (100 = avg)
San Jose's crime index is 157 versus 221 in Toledo (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 29% lower in San Jose. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, San Jose is the easier city. Toledo can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
64% more comfortable
San Jose weather is 64% more comfortable than Toledo
San Jose
Winner69°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Toledo
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
San Jose averages about 69°F (80°F highs); Toledo averages about 51°F (58°F highs). San Jose sits near 69°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Toledo averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. San Jose scores 64% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Toledo if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 135% higher ($146,427), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 69°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
San Jose is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 29% lower than Toledo (157 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Toledo
Toledo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 65% cheaper here at about $934 a month. Choose Toledo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
On rent alone, Toledo undercuts San Jose by $1,735/month ($934 vs $2,669). I would not pick San Jose on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Toledo rent at $934/month is still below San Jose's $2,669, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 69°F in San Jose and 51°F in Toledo.
Toledo is the default on housing cost at $934/month versus $2,669 in San Jose; San Jose stays in play when $146,427 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $1,735 lease gap.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Jose and Toledo, plus other cities in CA and OH.
