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Overview
San Jose is the largest city in Northern California and is known as the economic, cultural, and political center of Silicon Valley. It is located in the middle of the Santa Clara Valley and on the southern shore of the San Francisco Bay. Retirees move to San Jose because of the sunny weather and extensive activities that this large city has to offer.
Climate & Geography
San Jose has a Mediterranean climate with an average of 300 days of sunshine per year. Summers are hot and dry with temperatures reaching the 90s, and winters are mild and wet with temperatures reaching the 40s. The region averages 15 inches of rain each year, and the city is protected from frequent rainfall by the surrounding mountains.
San Jose contains four distinct valleys: Almaden Valley; Evergreen Valley, the hilly area; Santa Clara Valley, the flat part of the city; and the Coyote Valley, which is mainly rural. The city is near the Pacific Ocean, and the northern border of the city touches the San Francisco Bay Area. The region is surrounded by mountains on three sides.
Recreation, Culture, & Entertainment
Active adults take advantage of the year-round warmth by enjoying many outdoor activities. The Municipal Rose Garden is a popular destination and has a variety of well-maintained roses with picnic areas throughout and a fountain in the middle. Retirees also enjoy hiking at Mission Peak and Alum Rock Park.
Santana Row offers an assortment of entertainment, including outdoor shopping, dining, and a movie theatre. There are also several museums, art centers, and music venues throughout the city. In addition, the SAP Center is home to The Sharks for sports fans to regularly catch hockey games.
Cost of Living & Taxes
The city has a high cost of living because of the affluent county it lies within. The average home cost is far above the national average, and the area is known to have the most expensive housing market in the country.
California does not tax Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits, all other retirement income is fully taxed. Residents over 65 can claim an extra $118 exemption. Property taxes in the state are below average, but the state sales tax is the highest in the country at 7.25 percent.
Health Care
The San Jose metro area scores very well on Gallup’s Well-Being Index, ranking in the top 20 communities across the country.
There are six medical centers and hospitals in San Jose, four of which are rated high performing by U.S News. These high performing hospitals include Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center, O’Connor Hospital-San Jose, Regional Medical Center of San Jose, and Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.