Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 San Mateo leads 13 of 22 categories
Fresno
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
San Mateo
California
13
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.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Homes cost $1187k less ($321,800 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1744/mo less ($1,227 vs $2,971)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 19.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $86,151/yr
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 4.7%)
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $86,151 more per year on average
67% less violent crime than Fresno
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 98°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 13% higher than Fresno
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Fresno
Median Home Value
$1187k less
$321,800 vs $1,508,900
Fresno
Summer Heat
25.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$86,151
$149,152 vs $63,001/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
67% lower
243.2 vs 735.5 per 100k
San Mateo
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
4.7% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 19.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Fresno is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 13 of 22 categories. Fresno wins 9 and San Mateo wins 13. 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 Fresno to San Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($63,001 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and San Mateo, CA are about 149 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.