Living in Sunnyvale, CA
Sunnyvale is the 175th-largest city in the US, home to about 157,000 people in 2025. Its population has been roughly flat since 2020. Prices across the metro area run above the national average (110.4 on an index where the US is 100).
- Population, 2025
- 156,577+0.6% since 2020
- Median home value
- $1,801,8009.7 years of median income
- Median rent
- $3,039/morent plus utilities
- Household income
- $186,170median, per year
- Price level
- 110.4US average = 100
- January / July highs
- 59° / 77°lows 42° / 59°
- Average commute
- 23 min29% work from home
- State income tax
- 13.3%top rate, graduated
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County: Santa Clara County
Time zone: Pacific Time (UTC-8, UTC-7 in summer)
Elevation: about 128 ft
Metro area: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Cost of living in Sunnyvale
The median home in Sunnyvale is worth $1,801,800 and the median household earns $186,170 a year, so a typical home costs about 9.7 years of income. Median gross rent (rent plus utilities) is $3,039 a month, about 20% of the median household's income. BEA puts overall prices in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area at 110.4, with housing at 211.9 and goods at 105.2 (US = 100). In practice, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced place stretches about as far as $82,800 here. California taxes wages at a top rate of 13.3%. The average combined state and local sales tax in California is 9.03%.
What would my salary be worth in Sunnyvale?
Sunnyvale weather
Average highs run from 59°F in January to 77°F in July, and January nights average 42°F. It gets 13 inches of rain and melted snow a year, with almost no snow. The most comfortable months are March to November.
Month-by-month weather and the best time to visit Sunnyvale
People and work
The median resident is 35.2 years old, and 69% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 44% of households own their home. The average one-way commute is 23 minutes; 29% of workers work from home and 4% take public transit.
- Median age
- 35.2199th youngest of 546
- Bachelor's or higher
- 69%adults 25+
- Homeowners
- 44%of households
- People per sq mile
- 7,09822.1 sq mi of land
- Take transit to work
- 4%2% walk, 1.4% bike
- Unemployment
- 4.5%2020-2024 average
- Poverty rate
- 5.8%of residents
- Typical home built
- 1976median year
Who moves to Sunnyvale, and where people go
From farther away, newcomers most often come from Los Angeles (Los Angeles County), Seattle (King County) and San Diego (San Diego County). People who leave for somewhere more than 100 miles away most often head to Los Angeles (Los Angeles County), San Diego (San Diego County) and Seattle (King County). See the map and full lists
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years. Where Americans are moving.
Natural hazards, home prices and air quality
Natural hazard risk
Very High
FEMA rating for Santa Clara County, scored against every US county. Biggest risks: inland flooding, earthquake, coastal flooding, heat wave.
Home prices
-1% in a year
Up 27% over five years. FHFA house price index for the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA area, 2026 Q2.
Air quality, 2025
92% good days
0 days unhealthy at least for sensitive groups. EPA daily air quality index for the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA area (365 days measured).
FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025) combines expected losses from 18 natural hazards with how vulnerable and resilient the community is. It describes the county, not your street; check flood maps for a specific address at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
Parks and sights near Sunnyvale
The best-known parks, museums, zoos and landmarks within about 35 miles. Tap Been or Want to add them to your city passport.
- Oracle Park 34 miles
- Stanford University 9 miles
- San Jose State University 8 miles
- De Anza College 4 miles
- University of California-Santa Cruz 26 miles
- San Francisco State University 34 miles
- California State University-East Bay 20 miles
- San Jose City College 7 miles
- Ohlone College 12 miles
- Evergreen Valley College 15 miles
Places from Wikidata (CC0), linked to each one's official site or Wikipedia article. Check hours and fees before you go.
Airports near Sunnyvale
| Airport | Distance | Passengers boarding in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose International Airport SJC | 5 mi | 5,822,019 |
| San Francisco International Airport SFO | 26 mi | 25,078,968 |
| Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport OAK | 26 mi | 5,292,736 |
| Monterey Regional Airport MRY | 55 mi | 305,434 |
Federal Aviation Administration, calendar year 2024 passenger boardings (enplanements) at commercial service airports. Straight-line distance.
Colleges in and near Sunnyvale
| College | Distance | Undergrads | Net price a year | Graduate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose State University | 8 mi | 27,601 | $14,241 | 68% |
| De Anza College | 4 mi | 15,264 | $3,801 | n/a |
| California State University-East Bay | 20 mi | 9,809 | $6,858 | 49% |
| College of San Mateo | 20 mi | 7,977 | n/a | 53% |
| Evergreen Valley College | 15 mi | 7,688 | $9,375 | 44% |
| Stanford University | 9 mi | 7,554 | $12,307 | 92% |
US Department of Education College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Net price is the average yearly cost after grants for students who get federal aid. Graduate: share finishing within 150% of normal time.
Frost dates and fall color in Sunnyvale
Half the years, the last spring night at 32°F comes before January 6, so plant tender crops after that date or wait a week or two to be safer. Fall color depends on the trees, but the US Department of Agriculture says the brightest leaves come with warm, sunny days and cool nights, and that frost ruins vivid color. Here, cool 36°F nights usually start around December 6 and the first frost comes around December 23.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for Moffett Federal Airfield, CA, median (50%) dates. All frost dates for Sunnyvale.
Wildfire smoke in Sunnyvale
From 2021 through 2025, a smoke plume covered Sunnyvale on about 44 days a year, including about 9 days of medium or heavy smoke. Smoke high overhead can turn sunsets red without reaching the ground, so check the air quality reading before you change plans.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, daily satellite plumes over the city center, 2021 to 2025. Smoke days for every city.
Home internet in Sunnyvale
Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020-2024, table B28002, 60,293 households. Compare every city.
Public schools in Sunnyvale
Downtown Sunnyvale is in these districts. Neighborhoods farther out may belong to a different one, so check the address with the district before you buy or rent.
| District | Grades | Students | Schools | Students per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunnyvale Elementary School District | K to 8 | 5,764 | 10 | 19.0 |
| Fremont Union High School District | 9 to 12 | 9,457 | 6 | 22.6 |
Other districts within 10 miles: Fremont Unified School District (33,134 students), San Jose Unified School District (24,453 students), East Side Union High School District (20,001 students), Santa Clara Unified School District (14,448 students), Cupertino Union Elementary School District (13,533 students), Palo Alto Unified School District (10,209 students).
National Center for Education Statistics, school district boundaries and characteristics, 2024-25 school year.
Sunnyvale's twin cities
Cities at least 250 miles away with the closest match to Sunnyvale's weather month by month and its costs (price level, home values and rent).
- Santa Monica, CA72% matchCompare
- Carlsbad, CA68% matchCompare
- Thousand Oaks, CA67% matchCompare
- Newport Beach, CA67% matchCompare
Find a twin that is cheaper, warmer or cooler
Ski resorts near Sunnyvale
- Dodge Ridge Ski Area 126 miles
- Badger Pass Ski Area 131 miles
- Bear Valley Mountain Resort 134 miles
- Kirkwood Mountain Resort 140 miles
Straight-line distance. All ski resorts.
Pros and cons of living in Sunnyvale
Data points come from the official sources on this page. Points marked Local come from people who live here, are read by a person before they appear, and are ranked by readers.
Pros
- Data 9 months a year have comfortable weather by our rule.
- Data A highly educated city: 69% of adults hold a bachelor's degree.
- Data Clean air: 334 of 365 days in 2025 had good air quality in the metro (EPA).
Cons
- Data Homes are expensive for local pay: the median home costs 9.7 years of median household income.
- Data Everyday prices in the metro run 10% above the US average, mostly because of housing.
- Data California's top income tax rate is 13.3%, among the highest in the country.
- Data Sales tax is high: 9.03% on average with local taxes.
- Data High natural hazard risk in Santa Clara County (FEMA rates it very high), led by inland flooding, earthquake and coastal flooding.
Sunnyvale report card from locals
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Sunnyvale through locals' eyes
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Cities near Sunnyvale
| City | Distance | Population | Home value | Price level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain View, CA | 3 mi | 85,438 | $1,927,000 | 110.4 | Compare |
| Santa Clara, CA | 4 mi | 133,446 | $1,582,600 | 110.4 | Compare |
| Milpitas, CA | 8 mi | 78,596 | $1,251,700 | 110.4 | Compare |
| San Jose, CA | 8 mi | 989,814 | $1,233,200 | 110.4 | Compare |
| Fremont, CA | 13 mi | 226,442 | $1,403,800 | 115.6 | Compare |
| Redwood City, CA | 14 mi | 82,178 | $1,801,700 | 115.6 | Compare |
Straight-line distance between city centers.
Sunnyvale ranks 8th of 15 in our best suburbs of San Jose ranking.
Cities with a similar profile
Closest match on climate, price level, size, income and median age, outside the immediate area.
Compare Sunnyvale with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Sunnyvale a good place to live?
It depends on what you need. The numbers show 9 comfortable months a year; the trade-offs are high prices, expensive homes relative to local incomes. Compare Sunnyvale side by side with another city to see how it stacks up for you.
What is the population of Sunnyvale?
The Census Bureau estimates Sunnyvale had 156,577 residents on July 1, 2025, compared with 155,607 in April 2020 (+0.6%).
How much do you need to earn to live in Sunnyvale?
Using BEA price levels, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $82,800 in the Sunnyvale area. The median household here earns $186,170.
When is the best time to visit Sunnyvale?
By the 1991-2020 climate normals, March to November are the most comfortable months. July averages 77°F and January 59°F for daytime highs.
What county is Sunnyvale in?
Sunnyvale is in Santa Clara County, California. Source: Census Bureau 2020 geography.
What time zone is Sunnyvale in?
Sunnyvale is on Pacific Time (UTC-8, or UTC-7 during daylight saving time from March to November).
What is the elevation of Sunnyvale?
About 128 feet above sea level at the city center. Elevation varies across the city.
Does California have a state income tax?
Yes. California has a graduated income tax with a top rate of 13.3% for 2026. Some cities add a local income tax, which is not included here.
Sources
Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates (July 1, 2025). Income, housing, education and commuting: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for the city of Sunnyvale. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area. Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Moffett Federal Airfield, CA station; snowfall from San Jose, CA. Taxes: Tax Foundation 2026. How we get our numbers.