Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Mateo, CA
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 San Mateo leads 13 of 23 categories
San Mateo
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
104,165
Sparks
Nevada
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,938
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
108,025 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $66,214 more per year on average
38% less violent crime than Sparks
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 92°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 15% higher than Sparks
Sparks, NV
Pros
Homes cost $1085k less ($423,500 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1445/mo less ($1,526 vs $2,971)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 19.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $66,214/yr
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Mateo
Median Income
$66,214
$149,152 vs $82,938/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
38% lower
243.2 vs 394.4 per 100k
San Mateo
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.1% unemployment
Sparks
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 103.2 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Sparks
Median Home Value
$1085k less
$423,500 vs $1,508,900
Sparks
Summer Heat
19.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 72.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Mateo, CA | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,508,900⚠ High | $423,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,971⚠ High | $1,526⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,152 ✓ Higher | $82,938 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.9% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 74 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.0:1 | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.2% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 85.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Mateo-Foster City | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 72.6°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.3" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,165 | 108,025 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.4% ✓ More | 15.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Mateo's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Sparks is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 13 of 23 categories. San Mateo wins 13 and Sparks wins 10. 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,508,900 vs $423,500 median home), income ($149,152 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Mateo, CA and Sparks, NV are about 198 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.