I believe price per square foot is higher in SF/NY than San Jose, but I think the reasons that median rent is higher in San Jose are partially due to the follow

I believe price per square foot is higher in SF/NY than San Jose, but I think the reasons that median rent is higher in San Jose are partially due to the following: - SF and NY have always had a high percentage of renters and a long history of rent control, skewing the actual amount people are paying in rent down. - San Jose is closer than SF to the highest paying tech jobs, driving the median income in SJ (according to some studies) to the highest in the nation and supporting rental increases. - As luxury apartments are a relatively newer addition to San Jose, the rents being paid are going to be higher than a 20 year occupant of a sweet rent controlled apartment in the city. So the reason San Jose rent is showing as more expensive than SF/NY is largely due to the metrics of this particular study. However, as tech companies are continuing to heavily invest in the South Bay and Peninsula, I would expect to see a continued upward trend in San Jose median income and rent.