Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$137,387
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
San Mateo
California
9
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.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Homes cost $676k less ($833,300 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $744/mo less ($2,227 vs $2,971)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (2.8%)
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $11,765/yr
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 90°F
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 45°F
Households earn $11,765 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Home Value
$676k less
$833,300 vs $1,508,900
Arlington
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
2.8% vs 4.7% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
17.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$11,765
$149,152 vs $137,387/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
4% lower
243.2 vs 254.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 19.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 74 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | A- (113) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 58.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 19.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 19.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 14 and San Mateo wins 9. 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 Arlington to San Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($137,387 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and San Mateo, CA are about 2,430 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.