San Jose is the oldest city in city in California, rich in heritage with racial diversity and economic opportunities. Families heading to San Jose are finding out why the city is considered fun.

San Jose is a sprawling 175 square miles located in northern California. The third-largest city in the state with over 912,000 residents, it is the eleventh largest in the nation. San Jose is in the Santa Clara Valley with city neighbors Buena Vista and Burbank nearby. After a 14.2% increase in population between 1990 and 2000, the number of people heading to San Jose has slowed in recent years. According to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2005, the median age of city residents was 34.7 years. Three parts nearly make the whole population for San Jose with 32% of White non-Hispanic, 32% Asian and 31% Hispanic races. The average of 3.1 people per home found families accounting for 73% of city households. English was not the language of choice in 55% of city homes, as 38% of the citizenry is foreign-born.

San Jose residents enjoy low unemployment and poverty while earnings are among the best in California. People heading to San Jose are finding well paying jobs with a median household income of $70,921 in 2005. Among the most common occupations are management, professional, and related occupations making up 40% of the work force. Poverty was three percent below the national average in 2005 at 10%, only 4.9% for White Non-Hispanic residents. Agriculture is a large part of the city's economy, with wine production and food processing and distribution among the leading industries. But it's technology that has made San Jose what it is today. At the heart of the Silicon Valley, known for its prominence in semiconductor and computer-related technology, is some industry giants. Businesses like Adobe Systems, Cisco and eBay have headquarters in San Jose. Hewlett-Packard, IBM and Hitachi also have bases in the city.

San Jose has some high property values that have risen greatly since 2000 when the median home was tagged at a value of $427,800. That number crept up to 625,400 in 2005, but a very modest increase in a state with surging home values. New home construction is in decline. The number of building permits has dwindled from 2329 buildings built in 1997 to 602 in 2006. Home ownership in San Jose is high for California with 62% of homes occupied by owners. The average age of city dwellings is below the state average with 18% of housing units built since 1990. The median monthly housing costs for mortgaged owners was $2,409, non-mortgaged owners $439, and renters $1,153.

For a city of its size, San Jose is one of the safest places to live in America. It was ranked #1 among big cities by Morgan Quitno three years in a row. Stolen car reports, however, have been on the rise, from 2,615 thefts in 1999 to over 5,500 in 2005. The FBI Crime Rate dropped during that period to 236.8. The U.S. average is 325.2. Higher than the national average is 36% of citizens who hold a bachelor's degree or higher in San Jose. One big college in the city is San Jose State University with its full-time enrollment of 20,861 students. Heading to San Jose for its climate might be a good choice. Residents enjoy mild but semi-arid weather with about 15 inches of annual precipitation. The average temperature in January is 48.7 while July sees high temperatures averaging 84 degrees. With 300 sunny days per year, the average annual temperature is 70 degrees.

Named the third Most Fun City in America by Cranium Inc., San Jose is just 20 minutes away from some popular beaches on the Pacific Ocean. Nearby Santa Cruz is a popular hangout for surfers. Residents can also access nearby mountain ranges for summer hiking and winter skiing. The city is a short distance from some top-notch golf courses, including renowned Pebble Beach. One major sports franchise, the NHL?s San Jose Sharks makes their home on the ice at HP Pavilion, known as the ?Shark Tank.? Public transportation is seldom used by people who commute to work. A whopping 78% of workers drove to work alone in 2005, while 3% used mass transit. Among those who commuted to work, it took an average of 25 minutes to get to their jobs. Three international airports in the area with Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International the closest, followed by airports in Oakland and San Francisco. San Jose is also served by Amtrak.

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