Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palm Coast, FL
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 Palm Coast leads 12 of 19 categories
Palm Coast
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$68,824
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,082
San Mateo
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
104,165 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Palm Coast, FL
Pros
Homes cost $1226k less ($283,300 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1350/mo less ($1,621 vs $2,971)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 58°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $80,328/yr
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $80,328 more per year on average
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 88°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 14% higher than Palm Coast
Key Differences at a Glance
Palm Coast
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Palm Coast
Median Home Value
$1226k less
$283,300 vs $1,508,900
Palm Coast
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.1% vs 4.7% unemployment
Palm Coast
Summer Heat
15.2°F warmer
July avg high 87.8°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$80,328
$149,152 vs $68,824/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palm Coast, FL | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $283,300 ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,621⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $68,824 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.1% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 74 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.8% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FLAGLER | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer | 58.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.8°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 19.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,082 | 104,165 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 50.3 ✓ Older | 38.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.9% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 19.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 29.5% ✓ More | 16.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palm Coast's cost of living index is 104.5 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Palm Coast is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Palm Coast leads 12 of 19 categories. Palm Coast wins 12 and San Mateo wins 7. 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 Palm Coast to San Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($283,300 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($68,824 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palm Coast, FL and San Mateo, CA are about 2,409 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.