San Jose ranked 4th in the US for quality of life

In terms of quality of life, a new rating places a city in the Bay Area among the top 5 in the country. San Jose came in at number four on U.S. News & World Report’s list of the top 25 cities to live in the country for quality of life.

Referred to as “the capital of Silicon Valley,” the South Bay group scored highly for quality of life, surpassing Portland, Maine in 5th place, Boston, Massachusetts in sixth place, and Green Bay, Wisconsin in 7th.

According to the report, San Jose is a “diverse area with an innovative spirit.”

“While it was a distinct downtown, San Jose is a sprawling metro area that is as much defined by its suburban neighborhoods and large tech campuses as it is by high-rises in its business district,” the report said. “San Jose’s proximity to other tech headquarters in Silicon Valley, including Google in Mountain View and Apple in Cupertino, cement’s San Jose’s position in the tech hub.”

Proximity to the tech industry Additionally, this ranking highlighted San Jose’s character and characteristics. Other quirky attractions listed include the Winchester Mystery House, a life-sized Monopoly board, and a 120-acre flea market.

“Cradled by the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains and Diablo Range, San Jose offers a prime environment for outdoorsy residents, with its proximity to the ocean, the Sierra Nevada and the vineyards — not to mention about 300 sunny days a year,” the report concluded.

When it comes to quality of life, San Jose is surpassed only by Madison, Wisconsin, in third place, Boulder, Colorado, in second place, and Ann Arbor, Michigan, at the top of the 25-city ranking.

Methodology

In determining rankings of the best places to live, News & World Report data from sources including the United States, United States Census Bureau, FBI, United States Department of Labor and internal resources.