Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 San Mateo leads 16 of 22 categories
Knoxville
Tennessee
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
San Mateo
California
16
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.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $1325k less ($184,200 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1928/mo less ($1,043 vs $2,971)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $100,843/yr
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $100,843 more per year on average
67% less violent crime than Knoxville
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 88°F
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Knoxville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Knoxville
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$1325k less
$184,200 vs $1,508,900
Knoxville
Summer Heat
15.7°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$100,843
$149,152 vs $48,309/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
67% lower
243.2 vs 740.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 19.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 19.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 16 of 22 categories. Knoxville wins 6 and San Mateo wins 16. 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 Knoxville to San Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($48,309 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and San Mateo, CA are about 2,111 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.