San Jose, California and Ewa, Hawaii are two diverse cities that offer unique experiences to residents and visitors alike. Both are populated areas with their own cultural, economic, and environmental attractions. San Jose is a bustling city within Silicon Valley, renowned for its well-established tech industry and high standard of living. Conversely, Ewa represents the serene Hawaiian lifestyle characterized by stunning beaches and a relaxed pace of life.
San Jose boasts a relatively low crime rate compared to other Californian cities, offering residents and tourists a safe environment in most areas. However, as with any urban center, some neighborhoods can be safer than others. Ewa, likewise, provides a secure environment, although the overall crime rate is slightly higher than the national average. Regardless, this may vary according to specific localities within the region.
Cost of Living
Living in San Jose, often considered one of the world’s most expensive cities, includes high housing costs, partly due to the city’s thriving tech industry. By contrast, cost of living in Ewa is also elevated, largely because many goods and services must be imported, but is less than in San Jose.
Income Tax
California has a progressive income tax, with highest rate being 13.3%. Hawaii, comparatively, taxes income at rates ranging from 1.4% to 11%.
Property Tax
San Jose’s average property tax rate is 0.793%, while Hawaii has one of the lowest property taxes in the nation, with a rate of 0.278% in Honolulu County.
Sales Tax
Sales tax in San Jose is 9.25%, while in Ewa it is 4.712%, considerably lower due to Hawaii’s General Excise Tax system.
Income
Type
San Jose
Ewa
Estimated median household income
$126,377
$108,384
Estimated per capita income
$57,357
$37,904
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
127.4
145.5
If you make $50,000 in San Jose, you will have to make $57,104 in Ewa to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
Surrounded by the Santa Clara Valley and the Santa Cruz Mountains, San Jose offers diverse landscapes. On other hand, Ewa, with its stunning beaches and lush greenery, presents quintessential Hawaiian geography.
Geographical information
Type
San Jose
Ewa
Land area
174.9 sq. miles
164.9 sq. miles
Population density
5,624.3 people per sq. mile
1,696.2 people per sq. mile
Elevation
87 feet
49 feet
Relative area comparison
San Jose, CA Ewa, HI
Education
San Jose houses several excellent schools and is home to prestigious universities like San Jose State University, Santa Clara University, and nearby Stanford University. Ewa has a robust public school system and also provides access to the University of Hawaii at nearby Manoa.
San Jose is the cornerstone of Silicon Valley, with a powerful economy bolstered by tech giants including Apple, Google, and Facebook. Ewa’s economy is tied to diverse sectors like tourism, defense, and agriculture.
Biggest Employers
The biggest employers in San Jose are Apple, Google, and Cisco. In Ewa, The Hawaii Department of Education, the Federal government, and the State of Hawaii are among the largest employers.
In San Jose (Santa Clara County), 70.0% voted for Democrats and 27.1% for Republicans in 2012 Presidential Election. In Ewa (Honolulu County), 68.9% voted for Democrats and 29.8% for Republicans.
Elections
Type
Democrats
Republicans
Other
Year
San Jose
Ewa
San Jose
Ewa
San Jose
Ewa
2020
72.7%
62.7%
25.2%
35.8%
2.1%
1.5%
2016
72.7%
61.5%
20.6%
31.6%
6.7%
6.9%
2012
70.0%
68.9%
27.1%
29.8%
2.9%
1.3%
2008
69.6%
70.1%
28.6%
28.8%
1.8%
1.1%
2004
64.3%
51.1%
34.8%
48.3%
0.9%
0.6%
2000
60.7%
54.6%
34.4%
39.6%
4.9%
5.7%
1996
56.9%
56.3%
32.2%
33.6%
11.0%
10.1%
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregation
Type
Adherents
Congregations
Religion
San Jose
Ewa
San Jose
Ewa
CATHOLIC CHURCH
25.1%
18.2%
6.0%
5.2%
MUSLIM ESTIMATE
1.1%
0.0%
1.8%
0.1%
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
0.9%
1.5%
7.7%
9.7%
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
0.5%
0.5%
2.3%
2.7%
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
0.4%
0.5%
2.6%
2.6%
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
0.3%
0.2%
2.3%
1.1%
Weather
Residents and tourists alike are drawn to California’s Mediterranean climate, with mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. San Jose generally experiences less rain than other areas in the region. Meanwhile, Ewa enjoys a tropical climate, marked by warm temperatures throughout the year and heavier rainfall between November and March.
Weather and climate
Type
San Jose
Ewa
Temperature - Average
60.9°F
74.8°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
77.3%
70.5%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
35.5%
27%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
87%
79%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
51.6%
52%
Precipitation - Yearly average
16.1 in
22.8 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
0 in
0 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
27.4%
14.9%
Sunshine amount - Average
73.8%
71%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
23%
19%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
77.4%
75%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
54.4%
56%
Wind speed - Average
10.3 mph
11.1 mph
Average climate in San Jose, California
Average climate in Ewa, Hawaii
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PB
PM10
PM25
SO2
Year
San Jose
Ewa
San Jose
Ewa
San Jose
Ewa
San Jose
Ewa
San Jose
Ewa
Ewa
San Jose
Ewa
San Jose
Ewa
2018
94
43
0.49
0.32
14.5
3.9
22.2
25.8
0.006
N/A
14.7
N/A
12.5
3.4
0.2
0.5
2017
91
46
0.50
0.26
14.6
4.4
23.5
24.8
0.004
N/A
15.3
N/A
10.2
4.4
0.2
0.6
2016
69
46
0.47
0.32
13.7
3.9
22.4
24.8
0.003
N/A
19.9
N/A
8.8
3.0
0.2
0.5
2015
84
53
0.52
0.41
15.4
3.5
22.3
24.0
0.004
N/A
21.1
N/A
9.2
5.2
0.3
0.9
2014
83
45
0.40
0.37
13.9
3.4
21.5
21.6
0.004
N/A
19.5
N/A
8.2
4.1
0.2
1.1
2013
90
53
0.41
0.43
15.2
3.0
20.8
26.4
0.005
N/A
19.0
N/A
12.4
5.5
0.3
1.4
2012
74
58
0.35
0.37
13.3
2.9
21.8
24.7
0.003
N/A
18.7
N/A
10.1
6.4
0.3
0.8
2011
83
57
0.37
0.34
14.8
2.9
20.6
28.4
0.003
N/A
18.1
N/A
12.3
5.2
0.3
0.9
2010
88
68
0.35
0.26
14.4
3.4
20.4
N/A
0.004
0.002
N/A
N/A
9.0
4.6
0.4
1.2
2009
89
58
0.40
0.32
14.7
4.3
18.2
N/A
0.004
0.003
N/A
N/A
9.3
5.0
0.3
0.9
2008
100
19
0.45
0.35
16.7
4.2
20.6
N/A
N/A
0.002
N/A
N/A
12.6
N/A
N/A
1.1
2007
92
23
0.44
0.33
16.6
4.7
20.0
N/A
0.009
0.001
N/A
N/A
11.1
N/A
N/A
1.5
2006
100
21
0.46
0.14
18.0
4.9
21.8
N/A
N/A
0.003
N/A
N/A
11.1
N/A
N/A
1.7
2005
95
19
0.68
0.37
18.6
5.0
20.0
N/A
N/A
0.001
N/A
N/A
11.6
N/A
N/A
1.1
2004
98
18
0.63
0.44
18.5
4.8
20.4
N/A
N/A
0.001
N/A
N/A
9.9
N/A
N/A
0.7
2003
87
21
0.73
0.44
20.6
4.7
19.1
N/A
N/A
0.002
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
0.6
2002
78
19
0.65
0.62
19.5
4.9
18.0
N/A
0.006
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
0.6
2001
75
21
0.61
0.55
18.5
4.5
16.8
N/A
0.008
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.1
2000
65
21
0.66
0.42
18.9
4.9
15.6
N/A
0.009
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
0.7
Natural disasters
Type
San Jose
Ewa
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
9%
3.7%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
7,785.3%
1,188.8%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
19%
16%
Transportation
Public transit options in San Jose include buses, light rail, and Caltrain. Ewa has TheBus – Honolulu's public transit system, but many residents also use cars for commuting.
Transport
Type
San Jose
Ewa
Amtrak stations
1
0
Amtrak stations nearby
3
0
FAA registered aircraft
553
0
FAA registered aircraft manufacturers and dealers
13
0
Means of transportation to work
Type
San Jose
Ewa
Bicycle
1%
0.5%
Bus
1.1%
6.4%
Carpooled
11.4%
21.2%
Car alone
80.5%
65.8%
Ferryboat
0%
0.2%
Motorcycle
0.2%
0.5%
Railroad
0.2%
0%
Subway
0.2%
0%
Walked
3.3%
2.7%
Average travel time to work
Type
San Jose
Ewa
Average
29.2 min
32.7 min
Real Estate
Real-estate prices in San Jose are among the nation’s highest. Ewa also has elevated real estate costs, albeit not to the extent of San Jose.
Neighborhoods
San Jose has diverse neighborhoods, from the historic Rose Garden to the more modern Santana Row. Ewa offers a selection of largely residential neighborhoods, popular for their proximity to beaches and amenities.
Houses and residents
Type
San Jose
Ewa
Houses
340,561
84,927
Average household size (people)
3.1
3.3
Houses occupied
322,881 (94.8%)
80,101 (94.3%)
Houses occupied by owners
179,797 (55.7%)
53,297 (66.5%)
Houses occupied by renters
143,084 (44.3%)
26,804 (33.5%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$3,214
$1,835
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$1,197,016
$674,769
Estimated median house or condo value
Over $1,000,000
$698,772
Median number of rooms in apartments
3.6
5.3
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
6
5.5
Renting percentage
41.5%
32.5%
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
1,947.6
515.1
Household income disparities
38.3%
35.6%
Housing units without a mortgage
2,632 (2.1%)
6,869 (16.9%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
13,499 (10.6%)
419 (1%)
Housing units with a mortgage
124,224 (97.9%)
33,885 (83.1%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
346 (0.3%)
4,958 (12.2%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
16,249 (12.8%)
3,874 (9.5%)
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
1.2%
0.6%
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business
28,517
5,036
State government workers
10,222
13,028
Unpaid family workers
472
250
Industries and Occupations
San Jose's main industries are tech, manufacturing, and education. In Ewa, a higher percentage work in sectors like tourism, healthcare and retail trade.
San Jose's residents have access to high-standard healthcare facilities, like Stanford Health Care and Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Ewa also offers quality healthcare, with facilities such as The Queen’s Medical Center in nearby Honolulu.
Health (county statistics)
Type
San Jose
Ewa
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)
San Jose offers robust infrastructure, including public transportation, multiple airports, and freeways. Ewa has less expansive infrastructure but offers adequate amenities including connectivity to other parts of Hawaii.
Infrastructure
Type
San Jose
Ewa
TV stations
9
18
Culture and Food
San Jose boasts a diverse cultural and food scene, with a blend of American, Mexican, Asian and European influences. Ewa is a hub of Polynesian culture and cuisine, known for fresh seafood and tropical fruits.
Sports Teams
San Jose hosts professional sports teams like the Sharks (NHL) and Earthquakes (MLS). Although Ewa lacks major professional sports teams, Hawaii as a whole is passionate about its university teams.
San Jose, CA
Ewa, HI
San Jose, CA and 
Ewa, HI : 2,417.3 miles
