Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 San Mateo leads 15 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
San Mateo
California
15
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.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $1204k less ($304,500 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1657/mo less ($1,314 vs $2,971)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $77,479/yr
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 4.7%)
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $77,479 more per year on average
55% less violent crime than Chicago
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 32°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)
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Chicago
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Median Home Value
$1204k less
$304,500 vs $1,508,900
Chicago
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 81.0°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$77,479
$149,152 vs $71,673/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
55% lower
243.2 vs 539.8 per 100k
San Mateo
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | A- (113) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 19.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 15 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 8 and San Mateo wins 15. 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 Chicago to San Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($71,673 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and San Mateo, CA are about 1,852 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.