Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pearland, TX
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 Pearland leads 15 of 22 categories
Pearland
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,123
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pearland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $1198k less ($311,100 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1349/mo less ($1,622 vs $2,971)
61% less violent crime than San Mateo
18% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.2%)
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $38,029/yr
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,029 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 93°F
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 18% higher than Pearland
Key Differences at a Glance
Pearland
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Pearland
Violent Crime
61% lower
95.9 vs 243.2 per 100k
Pearland
Median Home Value
$1198k less
$311,100 vs $1,508,900
Pearland
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.7% unemployment
Pearland
Summer Heat
20.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$38,029
$149,152 vs $111,123/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pearland, TX | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $311,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,622⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $111,123 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 43 ✓ Safer | 74 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 25 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | A- (113) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PEARLAND ISD | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer | 58.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.3" | 19.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 124,478 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 36.2 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 28.0% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pearland's cost of living index is 100.2 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Pearland is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pearland leads 15 of 22 categories. Pearland wins 15 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 Pearland to San Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($311,100 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($111,123 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pearland, TX and San Mateo, CA are about 1,642 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.