Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Mateo, CA
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 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
Population
104,165
Stamford
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$100,718
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
135,413 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $48,434 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 85°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 12% higher than Stamford
Stamford, CT
Pros
Homes cost $924k less ($584,700 vs $1,508,900)
35% less violent crime than San Mateo
Rent averages $842/mo less ($2,129 vs $2,971)
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $48,434/yr
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Mateo
Median Income
$48,434
$149,152 vs $100,718/yr
San Mateo
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
Stamford
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Stamford
Violent Crime
35% lower
157.5 vs 243.2 per 100k
Stamford
Median Home Value
$924k less
$584,700 vs $1,508,900
Stamford
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 84.8°F vs 72.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Mateo, CA | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,508,900⚠ High | $584,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,971⚠ High | $2,129⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,152 ✓ Higher | $100,718 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 27.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.9% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 74 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.0:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.2% ✓ Higher | 50.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Mateo-Foster City | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 72.6°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.3" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,165 | 135,413 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 16.4% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Mateo's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Stamford is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 12 of 23 categories. San Mateo wins 12 and Stamford 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 Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,508,900 vs $584,700 median home), income ($149,152 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Mateo, CA and Stamford, CT are about 2,584 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.