Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norman, OK
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 San Mateo leads 14 of 23 categories
Norman
Oklahoma
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849
Violent Crime Index
68
Population
127,701 ✓ Larger
San Mateo
California
14
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.
Norman, OK
Pros
Homes cost $1284k less ($224,900 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1967/mo less ($1,004 vs $2,971)
27% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $86,303/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.7%)
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $86,303 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 50°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Norman
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Norman
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Median Home Value
$1284k less
$224,900 vs $1,508,900
Norman
Summer Heat
19.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$86,303
$149,152 vs $62,849/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
7% lower
243.2 vs 260.2 per 100k
San Mateo
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norman, OK | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $224,900 ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,004 ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,849 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.6% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORMAN | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.6" | 19.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,701 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.4% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 19.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norman's cost of living index is 91.0 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Norman is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 14 of 23 categories. Norman wins 9 and San Mateo wins 14. 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 Norman to San Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($224,900 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($62,849 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norman, OK and San Mateo, CA are about 1,393 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.