Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New York, NY
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 San Mateo leads 16 of 23 categories
New York
New York
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,607
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ 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.
New York, NY
Pros
Homes cost $777k less ($732,100 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1257/mo less ($1,714 vs $2,971)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $72,545/yr
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 4.7%)
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $72,545 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than New York
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 6% higher than New York
Key Differences at a Glance
New York
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
New York
Median Home Value
$777k less
$732,100 vs $1,508,900
New York
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 84.8°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$72,545
$149,152 vs $76,607/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
64% lower
243.2 vs 671.0 per 100k
San Mateo
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $732,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,714⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,607 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 41.1 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 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 | 177⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.2% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.3% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.7°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" | 19.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 32.9% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New York's cost of living index is 112.5 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
New York is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 16 of 23 categories. New York wins 7 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 New York to San Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($732,100 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($76,607 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New York, NY and San Mateo, CA are about 2,569 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.