Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pompano Beach, FL
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 Pompano Beach leads 10 of 19 categories
Pompano Beach
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,155
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
111,790 ✓ Larger
San Mateo
California
9
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.
Pompano Beach, FL
Pros
Homes cost $1216k less ($293,300 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1444/mo less ($1,527 vs $2,971)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 58°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $87,997/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 4.7%)
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $87,997 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (4.7%)
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 91°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 6% higher than Pompano Beach
Key Differences at a Glance
Pompano Beach
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Pompano Beach
Median Home Value
$1216k less
$293,300 vs $1,508,900
Pompano Beach
Summer Heat
17.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$87,997
$149,152 vs $61,155/yr
San Mateo
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 8.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pompano Beach, FL | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $293,300 ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,527⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,155 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.7%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% | 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- (91) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 21.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.1% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.2% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 58.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.6" | 19.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,790 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 41.5 ✓ Older | 38.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.1% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 19.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.6% ✓ More | 16.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pompano Beach's cost of living index is 111.8 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Pompano Beach is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Pompano Beach leads 10 of 19 categories. Pompano Beach wins 10 and San Mateo wins 9. 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 Pompano Beach to San Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($293,300 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($61,155 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pompano Beach, FL and San Mateo, CA are about 2,571 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.