Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ann Arbor, MI
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 Ann Arbor leads 13 of 23 categories
Ann Arbor
Michigan
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,546
Violent Crime Index
80
Population
122,216 ✓ Larger
San Mateo
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
104,165
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ann Arbor, MI
Pros
Homes cost $1092k less ($416,500 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1499/mo less ($1,472 vs $2,971)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 77.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.7%)
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $70,606/yr
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $70,606 more per year on average
20% less violent crime than Ann Arbor
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 32°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Ann Arbor
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Ann Arbor
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Ann Arbor
Median Home Value
$1092k less
$416,500 vs $1,508,900
Ann Arbor
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.7% unemployment
Ann Arbor
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 84.0°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$70,606
$149,152 vs $78,546/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
20% lower
243.2 vs 302.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ann Arbor, MI | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $416,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,546 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 19.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 80 | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | A- (113) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 58.2% |
| High School or Higher | 97.8% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ann Arbor Public Schools | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 19.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,216 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 27.4 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.0% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 19.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ann Arbor's cost of living index is 98.0 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Ann Arbor is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Ann Arbor leads 13 of 23 categories. Ann Arbor wins 13 and San Mateo wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Ann Arbor to San Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($416,500 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($78,546 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ann Arbor, MI and San Mateo, CA are about 2,052 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.