Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Round Rock, TX
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 Round Rock leads 15 of 22 categories
Round Rock
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$91,888
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
120,465 ✓ 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.
Round Rock, TX
Pros
Homes cost $1171k less ($337,500 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1385/mo less ($1,586 vs $2,971)
46% less violent crime than San Mateo
21% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Violent crime is well below the national average (130.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.8%)
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $57,264/yr
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $57,264 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Round Rock
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Round Rock
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Round Rock
Violent Crime
46% lower
130.7 vs 243.2 per 100k
Round Rock
Median Home Value
$1171k less
$337,500 vs $1,508,900
Round Rock
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.7% unemployment
Round Rock
Summer Heat
23.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$57,264
$149,152 vs $91,888/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Round Rock, TX | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $337,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,586⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,888 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 ✓ Safer | 74 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 34 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | A- (113) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.3% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROUND ROCK ISD | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer | 58.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 19.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,465 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.3% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Round Rock's cost of living index is 97.6 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Round Rock is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Round Rock leads 15 of 22 categories. Round Rock 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 Round Rock to San Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($337,500 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($91,888 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Round Rock, TX and San Mateo, CA are about 1,487 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.