Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Jose, CA
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 San Mateo leads 11 of 21 categories
San Jose
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$136,010
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
San Mateo
California
11
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.
San Jose, CA
Pros
Homes cost $359k less ($1,149,600 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $445/mo less ($2,526 vs $2,971)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Cons
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Property crime (2587.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails San Mateo by $13,142/yr
San Mateo, CA
Pros
60% less violent crime than San Jose
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $13,142 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 82°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than San Jose
Key Differences at a Glance
San Jose
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 112.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
San Jose
Median Home Value
$359k less
$1,149,600 vs $1,508,900
San Jose
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 82.2°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$13,142
$149,152 vs $136,010/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
60% lower
243.2 vs 606.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Jose, CA | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $1,149,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,526⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,010 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.8 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.5% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Jose Unified | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer | 58.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.8" ✓ Drier | 19.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 37.8 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Jose's cost of living index is 112.9 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
San Jose is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 11 of 21 categories. San Jose wins 10 and San Mateo wins 11. 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 San Jose to San Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,149,600 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($136,010 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Jose, CA and San Mateo, CA are about 33 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.