Los Altos, 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.
Los Altos
67.9
#1370 nationally
San Mateo
63
#1808 nationally
Los Altos leads in crime level (2.1 vs 6.7). Los Altos leads in median household income ($250,001 vs $149,152). San Mateo leads in walk score (68 vs 46).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Los Altos, CA | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 67.9 (#1370) | 63 (#1808) |
| Population | 29,990 | 101,327 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $4,601,729 | $1,685,162 |
| Median Household Income | $250,001 | $149,152 |
| Average Commute | 22.8 min | 28.5 min |
| Walk Score | 46 | 68 |
| Crime Level | 2.1 | 6.7 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | N/A | 249 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+40.0 | D+50.3 |
D+
67.9 Score
Los Altos, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$4,601,729
Population
29,990
Crime
Low
Walk Score
46
Pacific
View Los Altos, 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 →
Try a different matchup
Swap Los Altos for: