San Mateo, California, known as "The Heart of the Peninsula," is a vibrant and diverse community located near San Francisco and San Jose. With its beautiful waterfront, strong local economy, and rich cultural heritage, San Mateo offers a high quality of life for its residents. The city's blend of suburban tranquility and urban amenities makes living in San Mateo an attractive option for families and professionals.
Residents of San Mateo enjoy a variety of recreational activities and cultural events. The city's numerous parks, waterfront areas, and cultural institutions provide ample opportunities for outdoor activities and enrichment. The Coyote Point Recreation Area and the San Mateo County History Museum are popular destinations that celebrate the city's natural beauty and cultural richness. The annual San Mateo County Fair and the Central Park Music Series are events that showcase San Mateo's vibrant comm...
San Mateo's strong economy is supported by a diverse range of industries, including technology, healthcare, and education. The city's strategic location near San Francisco and San Jose provides residents with easy access to job opportunities and cultural amenities in both metropolitan areas. Major employers in the area include Franklin Templeton Investments and San Mateo Medical Center.
San Mateo is committed to environmental sustainability, with numerous green initiatives and community programs aimed at preserving the city's natural resources. These efforts contribute to the city's appeal and enhance the quality of life for its residents.
Public transportation in San Mateo is well-developed, with access to Caltrain, SamTrans buses, and BART, facilitating easy commutes within the city and to neighboring areas. San Mateo's climate features mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers, allowing for year-round outdoor activities. Overall, San Mateo offers a blend of natural beauty, economic opportunity, and community spirit, making it a desirable place to live.
Amenities
Conveniently located, the area boasts a variety of amenities, including grocery stores, shopping, coffee shops and entertainment options all within walking distance.
Commute
The high commute score in this area could imply easy access to public transportation, as well as shorter-than-average commute times to your workplace.
Employment
With higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates, this area scores extremely well in the employment category.
Health & Safety
Accessible health facilities like hospitals, doctors offices, clinics and nursing homes as well as good air quality are all factors that have led to a high score in this category.
Cost Of Living
This area is known for its high cost of living, which means you should anticipate higher costs for everyday goods and services, housing, groceries, and health care.
Ratings
Through surveys and polls, AreaVibes obtained feedback from local residents in the area, and the results did not indicate a favorable outlook on factors like local amenities and the safety of the area.
San Mateo, California is a mid-sized city with a population of 103,619 people. With a population density of 8,539 people per square mile, San Mateo is well above the nation's average density level. On a daily basis, the typical American spends approximately 26 minutes on their one-way work commute. Reduced travel times not only contributes to increased overall happiness, but also affords more opportunities to cherish moments with family and friends. If you're living in San Mateo, your commute time will align closely with the national average, spanning a one-way duration of approximately 29 minutes.
Whether you’re relocating to a new town to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in San Mateo could be a positive experience compared to other cities in California if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. To help you find the best places to live in and around San Mateo, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, crime, cost of living, commute, health & safety and more.
With a livability score of 81 out of 100, San Mateo is ranked #1,115 in the United States and #43 in California. Based on this score, San Mateo would be considered a very livable city! San Mateo is also ranked in the top 10 percentile of all cities across the USA. Based on the scores for each individual category, San Mateo has been rewarded with high marks for education (A-). Regrettably for San Mateo, there are some categories for which it does not rank well, this includes: cost of living (F).
If you're considering living in San Mateo, it comes with numerous advantages, particularly in the form of an extensive selection of local amenities. These amenities play a pivotal role in elevating the quality of life within this vibrant community. From easily accessible grocery stores, to conveniently located fitness facilities, a diverse range of dining establishments and a multitude of shopping options, San Mateo provides a comprehensive array of resources for its residents. This ensures the effortless fulfillment of your daily needs and creates ample opportunities for relaxation and recreation. The convenience of these local offerings greatly contributes to the overall appeal of the area, making it an enticing destination for those in search of convenience, diversity, and a gratifying lifestyle. If you're contemplating a move, the abundance of local amenities could very well be a defining characteristic of this area. Some of the interesting things to do and attractions include: Coyote Point Recreation Area, CuriOdyssey, and The San Mateo Japanese Garden.
San Mateo real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in San Mateo. The median home price for San Mateo homes is $1,186,400, which is 189.9% higher than the California average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in San Mateo, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 9.4, which is 46.9% higher than the California average.
| Statistic | San Mateo | California | National |
| Average one way commute | 29min | 28min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 66.3% | 73.5% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 8.2% | 10.6% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 9.9% | 5.2% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 1.2% | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 2.5% | 2.7% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 10.0% | 5.4% | 4.6% |
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