San Jose, CA
| U.S. News Ratings | |
| Population: | 935,022 |
| Crime: | Low |
| Cost of Living: | High |
| Health Care: | Comprehensive |
| Housing Price: | High |
| Income: | Average |
San Jose, which thinks of itself as the capital of Silicon Valley, is nestled near the mountains about an hour's drive from San Francisco. With a population close to 1 million, the city fuels its economy with graduates from the many local universities who work for tech companies based in the city, including Cisco Systems and Adobe Systems.
All that San Jose has to offer, including a thriving art scene and diverse neighborhoods, often gets overshadowed by one thing: the role the city has played in the creation of Silicon Valley. San Jose State University, with a 2007 enrollment of 31,906, prides itself on placing students with local tech firms for internships as well as more permanent positions. Firms also draw on nearby Stanford University, the University of California–Santa Cruz, San Francisco State University, Santa Clara University, and the University of California–Berkeley.
But San Jose isn't all about computers and programming code. There's plenty to do after hours, including walking or jogging on more than 50 miles of city trails or attending the well-known Children's Musical Theater San Jose. The San Jose Museum of Art features modern paintings, sculptures, photographs, and installations. Symphony Silicon Valley, based in San Jose, offers concert series, community lectures, and other events. The Tech Museum of Innovation features interactive exhibits to teach kids and adults how technology works and how it affects our lives. The museum also offers labs for students on genetics, electricity, and the physics of roller coasters.
For those interested in a little retail therapy, the Great Mall of the Bay Area in nearby Milpitas contains dozens of big-name store outlets, from the Gap and Abercrombie to Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue.
The San Jose Sharks hockey team enjoys a loyal following and plays throughout the winter. The San Jose State Spartans, especially the golf and basketball teams, also attract local fans.
Since San Jose is near the San Andreas fault, residents face four times the average chance of experiencing an earthquake, scientists say. According to the 2008 Bay Area Earthquake Probabilities report, there is a one in five chance of a large earthquake occurring along the San Andreas fault over the next 30 years.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, San Jose has distinct wet and dry seasons, with most of the rain falling from November through March. The summers tend to be hot and sunny, with a sea breeze coming through in the afternoons.
Local schools include San Jose State University, Stanford University, the University of California–Santa Cruz, San Francisco State University, Santa Clara University, and the University of California–Berkeley.
The region is home to 38 hospitals, including two within a 30-mile radius that are rated by U.S. News, and 15 nursing care facilities. U.S. News ranked the Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose as one of the country's best hospitals in 2008.
While the tech industry has the highest profile, the San Jose region also employs almost 70,000 people in finance, insurance, and real estate and an additional 65,000 in transportation. Some 132,000 residents work in agriculture and 23,000 in the legal industry. The unemployment rate in December 2008 was 7.7 percent.
The median mortgage debt for San Jose is $87,800, while the median home sale price in 2008 was $449,000.
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