Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Evansville, IN
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 San Mateo leads 12 of 22 categories
Evansville
Indiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,853
Violent Crime Index
317⚠ High
Population
116,906 ✓ Larger
San Mateo
California
12
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.
Evansville, IN
Pros
Homes cost $1388k less ($121,100 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $2054/mo less ($917 vs $2,971)
28% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $99,299/yr
Violent crime (1206.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3678.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.7%)
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $99,299 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Evansville
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Evansville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Evansville
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Evansville
Median Home Value
$1388k less
$121,100 vs $1,508,900
Evansville
Summer Heat
16.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$99,299
$149,152 vs $49,853/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
80% lower
243.2 vs 1206.2 per 100k
San Mateo
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Evansville, IN | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $121,100 ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,853 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.2% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 317⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.2% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" | 19.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,906 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 38.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 16.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Evansville's cost of living index is 89.8 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Evansville is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 12 of 22 categories. Evansville wins 10 and San Mateo wins 12. 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 Evansville to San Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($121,100 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($49,853 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Evansville, IN and San Mateo, CA are about 1,888 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.