San Mateo, CA vs Union City, NJ
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
Union City
67.3
#1446 nationally
San Mateo leads in median household income ($149,152 vs $59,967). Union City leads in cost of living index (132 vs 249). Union City leads in walk score (94 vs 68).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | San Mateo, CA | Union City, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 63 (#1808) | 67.3 (#1446) |
| Population | 101,327 | 64,462 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,685,162 | $576,915 |
| Median Household Income | $149,152 | $59,967 |
| Average Commute | 28.5 min | 33.5 min |
| Walk Score | 68 | 94 |
| Crime Level | 6.7 | 7.4 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 249 | 132 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+50.3 | D+28.1 |
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+
67.3 Score
Union City, NJ
New Jersey community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$576,915
Population
64,462
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
94
Northeast
View Union City, NJ →
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