Palmdale, 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.

Palmdale

58

#1956 nationally

vs

San Mateo

63

#1808 nationally

San Mateo leads in walk score (68 vs 24). San Mateo leads in crime level (6.7 vs 15.1). Palmdale leads in cost of living index (130 vs 249).

Metric-by-Metric Breakdown

Metric Palmdale, CA San Mateo, CA
WhereAtHome Score 58 (#1956) 63 (#1808)
Population 161,404 101,327
Typical Home Value (ZHVI) $503,499 $1,685,162
Median Household Income $78,414 $149,152
Average Commute 41.3 min 28.5 min
Walk Score 24 68
Crime Level 15.1 6.7
School Rating N/A N/A
Cost of Living Index 130 249
Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored D+32.9 D+50.3