Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Mateo, CA
VS
Vista, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
San Mateo
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
104,165 ✓ Larger
Vista
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,715
Violent Crime Index
83
Population
98,392
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $60,437 more per year on average
23% less violent crime than Vista
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 1.6 pts lower (4.7%)
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 7% higher than Vista
Vista, CA
Pros
Homes cost $886k less ($622,900 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $969/mo less ($2,002 vs $2,971)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 58°F
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $60,437/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Mateo
Median Income
$60,437
$149,152 vs $88,715/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
23% lower
243.2 vs 316.4 per 100k
San Mateo
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.3% unemployment
Vista
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Vista
Median Home Value
$886k less
$622,900 vs $1,508,900
Vista
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 78.9°F vs 72.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Mateo, CA | Vista, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,508,900⚠ High | $622,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,971⚠ High | $2,002⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,152 ✓ Higher | $88,715 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 27.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.9% ✓ Higher | 11.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 74 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.0:1 | 20.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.2% ✓ Higher | 27.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 82.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Mateo-Foster City | Vista Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 72.6°F | 78.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.3" | 13.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,165 ✓ Larger | 98,392 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.4% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Mateo's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Vista's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Vista is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. San Mateo wins 11 and Vista 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 Vista or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,508,900 vs $622,900 median home), income ($149,152 vs $88,715), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Mateo, CA and Vista, CA are about 416 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.