Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Mateo, CA
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 San Mateo leads 12 of 22 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
Tampa
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,802
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $82,350 more per year on average
45% less violent crime than Tampa
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 0.5 pts lower (4.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 91°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 Tampa
Tampa, FL
Pros
Homes cost $1176k less ($333,200 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1549/mo less ($1,422 vs $2,971)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 58°F
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $82,350/yr
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
San Mateo
Median Income
$82,350
$149,152 vs $66,802/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
45% lower
243.2 vs 444.6 per 100k
San Mateo
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.2% unemployment
Tampa
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Tampa
Median Home Value
$1176k less
$333,200 vs $1,508,900
Tampa
Summer Heat
18.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 72.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Mateo, CA | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,508,900⚠ High | $333,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,971⚠ High | $1,422⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,152 ✓ Higher | $66,802 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.9% ✓ Higher | 16.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 74 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.0:1 | 19.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.2% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 89.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Mateo-Foster City | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 72.6°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.3" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,165 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.4% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Mateo's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Tampa is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 12 of 22 categories. San Mateo wins 12 and Tampa 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,508,900 vs $333,200 median home), income ($149,152 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Mateo, CA and Tampa, FL are about 2,388 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.