Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Mateo, CA
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 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
Yuma
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $89,840 more per year on average
43% less violent crime than Yuma
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 107°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Yuma
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Yuma, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $1322k less ($186,500 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1943/mo less ($1,028 vs $2,971)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 58°F
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $89,840/yr
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 4.7%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
San Mateo
Median Income
$89,840
$149,152 vs $59,312/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
43% lower
243.2 vs 423.6 per 100k
San Mateo
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Median Home Value
$1322k less
$186,500 vs $1,508,900
Yuma
Summer Heat
34.1°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 72.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Mateo, CA | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,508,900⚠ High | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,971⚠ High | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,152 ✓ Higher | $59,312 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.9% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 74 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.0:1 | 19.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.2% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Mateo-Foster City | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 72.6°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.3" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,165 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.4% ✓ More | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Mateo's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. San Mateo wins 11 and Yuma 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,508,900 vs $186,500 median home), income ($149,152 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Mateo, CA and Yuma, AZ are about 561 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.