Moving from San Jose, CA to Shreveport, LA
A 1864 mi cross-country move between San Jose and Shreveport is 32h 54m on paper and typically three to five days in practice, through 5 states. Nearly every household line — rent, taxes, climate, commute — usually shifts. This page assembles the federal and Zillow data to make those differences visible on a single screen.
1864 mi · 32h 54m by car · CA → AZ → NM → TX → LA
Distance & route
| Route through | CA → AZ → NM → TX → LA |
|---|---|
| Primary highways | I 40, US 287, I 20 |
| Major cities en route | Fremont, Hayward, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Salinas |
Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Cost of living
| San Jose | Shreveport | U.S. avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items (RPP) | 110.423 | 84.766 | 100.0 |
| Rents | 156.659 | 72.558 | 100.0 |
| Goods | 105.168 | 93.691 | 100.0 |
| Services | 211.901 | 52.286 | 100.0 |
BEA RPP drops from 110.423 in San Jose to 84.766 in Shreveport, a 23.2% cut on the overall price level (2024).
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level · MSA-level); 2024.
Housing prices
Expect roughly 23.2% lower home prices — ZHVI goes from $1,463,614 to $135,092 moving to Shreveport.
YoY change: San Jose -2.5%, Shreveport -2.4%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.
Climate
| 1991–2020 normals | San Jose | Shreveport |
|---|---|---|
| Annual avg temperature | 62°F | 67°F |
| January avg low | 43°F | 37°F |
| July avg high | 82°F | 94°F |
| Annual snowfall | 0.0" | 0.9" |
| Annual precipitation | 16.1" | 51.4" |
Annual temperature rises 5.1°F moving to Shreveport per NOAA normals.
Shreveport gets essentially no annual snowfall on the NOAA 1991–2020 normals — winter gear can largely stay in storage.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: SAN JOSE, CA US, SHREVEPORT, LA US).
Demographics
| ACS 5-year 2023 | San Jose | Shreveport |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 990,054 | 183,483 |
| Median household income | $141,565 | $48,465 |
| Median age | 38.1 | 37.5 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.2% | 15.5% |
| Avg household size | 3.03 | 2.43 |
Shreveport households earn about 23.2% less than San Jose at the median — $141,565 → $48,465 on ACS 2023.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.
Jobs & wages
Top occupations in Shreveport MSA
| Occupation | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 23,700 | $36,480 |
| Sales and Related Occupations | 16,310 | $29,300 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 16,190 | $22,900 |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | 15,220 | $34,870 |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations | 15,190 | $69,280 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Moving between California and Louisiana
State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Louisiana's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation — state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.
Best time to move
Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.
To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.
Winter driving along this route
- Donner Pass (I-80) and Tejon Pass (I-5 Grapevine) see chain requirements and occasional closures December through March.
- I-17 and I-40 through the Flagstaff area can see winter closures; the rest of Arizona is generally clear year-round.
- Raton Pass (I-25 at the Colorado line) can close in winter storms.
State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.
Packing & arrival checklist
- Air conditioning matters: July highs in Shreveport average 94°F on NOAA normals. If the new place has window-unit or no AC, plan that purchase for the first week.
- Pack rain gear on top: Shreveport averages 51.4 in of annual precipitation — waterproof jackets and boots are worth unpacking before the big boxes.
- Hurricane season runs June through November — stock a basic emergency kit during unpack.
- Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
- Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
- Register to vote in Louisiana after establishing residency.
Frequently asked
Is Shreveport more expensive than San Jose?
Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Shreveport is 23.2% lower than San Jose (84.766 vs 110.423, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.
When is the best time to move from San Jose to Shreveport?
Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 1864 mi drive, weather on the route matters too — see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.
How much do homes cost in Shreveport compared to San Jose?
Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $135,092 in Shreveport vs $1,463,614 in San Jose — a 90.8% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.
How does household income compare in San Jose vs Shreveport?
Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $48,465 in Shreveport vs $141,565 in San Jose — a 65.8% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.
How far is Shreveport, LA from San Jose, CA?
The driving distance is 1864 mi and the route typically takes 32h 54m via I 40 and US 287. The trip crosses 5 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.
How does the job market in Shreveport compare to San Jose?
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $39,150 in the Shreveport MSA vs $81,470 in the San Jose MSA, on total employment of 170,470 and 1,141,820 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.
What is the climate difference between San Jose and Shreveport?
On NOAA 1991–2020 normals, annual average temperature is 66.6°F in Shreveport vs 61.5°F in San Jose (5.1°F warmer). Annual snowfall: 0.9 in vs 0.0 in. Annual precipitation: 51.4 in vs 16.1 in.
Plan the move
Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from San Jose.
City profiles: San Jose, CA · Shreveport, LA.