Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Mateo, CA
VS
Simi Valley, CA
🏆 Simi Valley leads 16 of 22 categories
San Mateo
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
104,165
Simi Valley
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$112,144
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,008 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 95°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 5% higher than Simi Valley
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
Homes cost $805k less ($704,200 vs $1,508,900)
47% less violent crime than San Mateo
Rent averages $569/mo less ($2,402 vs $2,971)
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 58°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $37,008/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Mateo
Median Income
$37,008
$149,152 vs $112,144/yr
Simi Valley
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 113.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
47% lower
129.1 vs 243.2 per 100k
Simi Valley
Median Home Value
$805k less
$704,200 vs $1,508,900
Simi Valley
Summer Heat
22.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 72.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Mateo, CA | Simi Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,508,900⚠ High | $704,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,971⚠ High | $2,402⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,152 ✓ Higher | $112,144 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 28.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.9% ✓ Higher | 14.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 74 | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.2% ✓ Higher | 36.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 91.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Mateo-Foster City | Simi Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 72.6°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.3" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,165 | 126,153 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 72.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.4% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Mateo's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Simi Valley's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Simi Valley is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 16 of 22 categories. San Mateo wins 6 and Simi Valley wins 16. 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 Mateo to Simi Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,508,900 vs $704,200 median home), income ($149,152 vs $112,144), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Mateo, CA and Simi Valley, CA are about 302 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.