Ithaca, NY 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.
San Mateo
63
#1808 nationally
San Mateo leads in median household income ($149,152 vs $45,468). Ithaca leads in cost of living index (117 vs 249). Ithaca leads in average commute (18.4 min vs 28.5 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Ithaca, NY | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 32,724 | 101,327 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $0 | $1,685,162 |
| Median Household Income | $45,468 | $149,152 |
| Average Commute | 18.4 min | 28.5 min |
| Walk Score | 72 | 68 |
| Crime Level | 5.4 | 6.7 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 117 | 249 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+50.6 | D+50.3 |
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Score
Ithaca, NY
Small New York city with local appeal
Population
32,724
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
72
Median Income
$45,468
Northeast
View Ithaca, NY →
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 →