Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Mateo, CA
VS
Urban Honolulu, HI
🏆 Urban Honolulu leads 13 of 22 categories
San Mateo
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
104,165
Urban Honolulu
Hawaii
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,772
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
348,547 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $66,380 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 79°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 11% higher than Urban Honolulu
Urban Honolulu, HI
Pros
Homes cost $703k less ($805,500 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1237/mo less ($1,734 vs $2,971)
24% less violent crime than San Mateo
Violent crime is well below the national average (185.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $66,380/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
San Mateo
Median Income
$66,380
$149,152 vs $82,772/yr
Urban Honolulu
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 106.8 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Urban Honolulu
Violent Crime
24% lower
185.2 vs 243.2 per 100k
Urban Honolulu
Median Home Value
$703k less
$805,500 vs $1,508,900
Urban Honolulu
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 79.0°F vs 72.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Mateo, CA | Urban Honolulu, HI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 106.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,508,900⚠ High | $805,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,971⚠ High | $1,734⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,152 ✓ Higher | $82,772 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 22.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.9% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 74 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 85 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B+ (108) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.0:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.2% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 90.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Mateo-Foster City | Hawaii Department of Education |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 76.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 72.6°F | 79.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.3" ✓ Drier | 31.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,165 | 348,547 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% ✓ Higher | 48.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.4% | 21.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Mateo's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Urban Honolulu's 106.8 (US average = 100).
Urban Honolulu is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Urban Honolulu leads 13 of 22 categories. San Mateo wins 9 and Urban Honolulu wins 13. 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 Urban Honolulu or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,508,900 vs $805,500 median home), income ($149,152 vs $82,772), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Mateo, CA and Urban Honolulu, HI are about 2,395 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.