Imperial, CA vs San Mateo, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Imperial
71.3
#996 nationally
San Mateo
63
#1808 nationally
Imperial leads in crime level (2.1 vs 6.7). Imperial leads in cost of living index (118 vs 249). San Mateo leads in median household income ($149,152 vs $83,029).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Imperial, CA | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 71.3 (#996) | 63 (#1808) |
| Population | 21,591 | 101,327 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $445,376 | $1,685,162 |
| Median Household Income | $83,029 | $149,152 |
| Average Commute | 18.1 min | 28.5 min |
| Walk Score | N/A | 68 |
| Crime Level | 2.1 | 6.7 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 118 | 249 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+0.9 | D+50.3 |
Data coverage note: Imperial is missing data for 1 metric that San Mateo has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
C-
71.3 Score
Imperial, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$445,376
Population
21,591
Crime
Low
Median Income
$83,029
Pacific
View Imperial, CA →
D
63 Score
San Mateo, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$1,685,162
Population
101,327
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
68
Pacific
View San Mateo, CA →