Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 Boca Raton leads 16 of 22 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,570
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
San Mateo
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
104,165 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Homes cost $912k less ($597,100 vs $1,508,900)
30% less violent crime than San Mateo
Rent averages $801/mo less ($2,170 vs $2,971)
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 58°F
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $53,582/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.7%)
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $53,582 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 91°F
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)
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
30% lower
171.0 vs 243.2 per 100k
Boca Raton
Median Home Value
$912k less
$597,100 vs $1,508,900
Boca Raton
Summer Heat
17.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$53,582
$149,152 vs $95,570/yr
San Mateo
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 74 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | A- (113) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 58.2% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 58.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 19.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 104,165 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 38.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 19.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 16.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Boca Raton is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 16 of 22 categories. Boca Raton wins 16 and San Mateo wins 6. 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 Boca Raton to San Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($95,570 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and San Mateo, CA are about 2,568 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.