San Mateo, CA vs Seattle, WA
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
Seattle
66.9
#1491 nationally
Seattle leads in cost of living index (158 vs 249). San Mateo leads in median household income ($149,152 vs $110,781). Seattle leads in walk score (74 vs 68).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | San Mateo, CA | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 63 (#1808) | 66.9 (#1491) |
| Population | 101,327 | 755,078 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,685,162 | $851,471 |
| Median Household Income | $149,152 | $110,781 |
| Average Commute | 28.5 min | 28.8 min |
| Walk Score | 68 | 74 |
| Crime Level | 6.7 | Moderate |
| School Rating | N/A | 6.8 |
| Cost of Living Index | 249 | 158 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+50.3 | D+51.7 |
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 →
D
66.9 Score
Seattle, WA
Emerald City tech powerhouse
Median Home
$851,471
Population
755,078
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B
Pacific
View Seattle, WA →
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