Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Mateo, CA
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 San Mateo leads 12 of 23 categories
San Mateo
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
104,165
Spokane
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,316
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $85,836 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than Spokane
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 38°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 17% higher than Spokane
Spokane, WA
Pros
Homes cost $1222k less ($286,900 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1911/mo less ($1,060 vs $2,971)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $85,836/yr
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Mateo
Median Income
$85,836
$149,152 vs $63,316/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
64% lower
243.2 vs 674.9 per 100k
San Mateo
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Spokane
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Spokane
Median Home Value
$1222k less
$286,900 vs $1,508,900
Spokane
Summer Heat
14.5°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 72.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Mateo, CA | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,508,900⚠ High | $286,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,971⚠ High | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,152 ✓ Higher | $63,316 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.9% ✓ Higher | 12.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 74 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.0:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.2% ✓ Higher | 32.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Mateo-Foster City | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 72.6°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.3" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,165 | 227,922 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.4% ✓ More | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Mateo's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 12 of 23 categories. San Mateo wins 12 and Spokane 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 Mateo to Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,508,900 vs $286,900 median home), income ($149,152 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Mateo, CA and Spokane, WA are about 741 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.