Firstly why San-Mateo, California?

I’ll start with some quick stats and an overview:

• City: San-Mateo
• State: California
• Population: 105,025 people
• San-Mateo’s quick summary would be Known for the picturesque Central Park and the annual San Mateo County Fair.

Some people I know rave about this place, others say it’s on the upswing or going through changes. Check out these migration details:

• How many people move-in: 30,000 annually
• While this many move-out: 15,000 annually
• Net Migration: 15000 more people in (net) annual change
• Non-Citizen Move-in: 700
• Number of Homeless people: 300

You might wonder why people choose to move here, I’d say generally because it offers a mix of urban and suburban living attracting families

Perk #1: San-Mateo Demographic Mix & Lifestyle

• The percentage of Residents Age 30–50 is about 35%
• Percentage of Home Ownership is hovering around 45%
• Largest Local Ethnic Group is Asian
• The 2nd Largest Ethnic Group is mostly Hispanic
• The median income is (and growing)  $96,000
• Income Required to Live Comfortably in San-Mateo is $100,000
• Average Extra Spending Money after paying bills yearly is approx. $4000 in positive cash flow

This and any cities local population can be a real melting pot—or sometimes it’s more homogeneous, depending on the area. Ask yourself: would you enjoy a bustling community with diverse backgrounds, or do you prefer a quieter, tight-knit vibe?

Perk #2: Housing & San-Mateo’s Cost of Living

• Cost of Living Index: 185 (100 is the US average)
• Annual Property Tax Per House: $4,917
• Property Tax %: 1.2%
• Rent for an average 2BD Apartment: $3,200
• Rent for an average house: $3,300
• Popular and Expensive Neighborhood: San Mateo
• Top 5 Growing Areas: San-Mateo, Foster-City, Belmont, Burlingame, and probably could include Millbrae
• Avg. Age of Homes in San-Mateo: 65 years
• The Percentage of Realtors per 100 people here: 1.3%

If the cost-of-living index is low, you might find a place without selling your kidney. If it’s high, well, you’ll need to budget carefully. Some income earners thrive in pricey markets, others prefer less financially stressful areas.

Perk #3: Job Market & San-Mateo’s Economy

• 3 Industries gaining traction in San-Mateo are  Technology, Healthcare, and Retail
• San-Mateo Job Scene: growing job market focused on tech and healthcare
• The General Tech Scene: growing tech community with strong emphasis on software development and tech services , ,
• San-Mateo Resident’s pay $1,200 in City Tax alone!
• Local Sales Tax in San-Mateo: 10.25%
• No. of Independent Businesses: 100 (excluding chains and corporates)
• Number of Local Branch Banks: 9

Maybe you’re a go-getter in finance, tech, or healthcare. Or you’d rather open a mom-and-pop shop. Either way, it’s worth checking if the local industries align with your skill set—or if you’re game to try something new.

Perk #4: Transportation & Commuting in San-Mateo

• Monthly Transportation Costs: $190 on average per person
• Freeway Access: Highway 92 connects San Mateo to the east and west sides of the Bay
• Commute Time: 26 minutes (public & private)
• Main Evening Traffic Area: slowdowns on Highway 92
• Transportation Score: 63 out of 100 described as Good Transit
• No. of Vehicles Registered in San-Mateo: 42,000
• Cars registered per Person: 0.4
• No. of Car Washes: 3 in and around the city
• DMV Website for San-Mateo: dmv.ca.gov
• The Bike-Friendly Score: 66 of 100
• Local Airport: San Francisco International

Is a 15-minute commute your dream, or is 45 minutes stuck on the freeway a dealbreaker? If you can handle traffic or love public transit, this might be perfect. If not, brace yourself with a killer podcast lineup.

Perk #5: San-Mateo’s Weather & Natural Factors

• The Most Common Natural Disaster is Earthquakes
• General Weather in San-Mateo is best described as has mild winters with cool temperatures and warm summers with occasional fog
• Winter Weather in San-Mateo i’d describe as cool with occasional rain
• Spring Weather in San-Mateo can be described as mild with some rain
• Summer’s in San-Mateo are mostly mild and foggy
• Fall ( the nicest time) in San-Mateo is usually cool and breezy
• How many days in a row over 90°F: 8 days in summer
• Days in a row in San-Mateo below Freezing: 0
• Average Annual Rainfall: 22 inches
• Summer Air Quality is usually good air quality largely due to coastal winds
• San-Mateo Winter Air acceptable air quality mild fluctuations common

Do you live for sunny skies? Or maybe you can’t stand humidity. Some relish snowy winters; others run south at the first snowflake. And if hurricanes, tornadoes, or earthquakes are part of the package, put all that into your consideration matrix.

Perk #6: San-Mateo Education & Schools

• The GreatSchools.org City Rating:
• Number of Colleges and Universities in San-Mateo 2
• While the number of trade schools inside San-Mateos’s city limits are 3
• Library that I have visited and enjoyed is the San Mateo County Libraries

If you’ve got kids—or you’re looking to further your own education—solid school ratings and local colleges can be a huge perk. If not, hey, a good library have more gems that you didn’t know existed, check it out.

Perk #7: Healthcare & San-Mateo Stats

• Typical EMS Response Time: 9 minutes
• Registered Full-Time San-Mateo only Doctors is about 90
• Local Hospitals here is  3
• Full-time San-Mateo only Police Officers is about 100
• Crime Rate Index: 30/100

Medical facilities could be important to you and who knows it could be related to the crime stats. Again some stats that are worth considering.

Perk #8: Utilities, Gyms & Water Quality

• San-Mateo’s Monthly utility bill average is $230
• San-Mateo’s Monthly Gym Membership: $75
• San-Mateo’s Water Quality Score: 78

Some of us freak out if water tastes off, others don’t mind. Gym buffs will appreciate a cheap membership; others prefer running outside for free. Check if these monthly costs fit inside your realistic lifestyle.

Perk #9: Events, Festivals & Vibe in San-Mateo

• Approx number of Festivals the city puts on is 9 annually
• The General Local City Vibe: suburban area known for its parks and local events
• You might enjoy local theater productions
• Nightlife Scene (yes this is completely subjective), San-Mateo  features a quaint nightlife with local eateries bars and entertainment options appealing to families

If you love a lively social calendar—fairs, concerts, maybe the odd chili cook-off—this is your jam. If crowds make you itch, you might only show up for the funnel cakes.

Perk #10: The Food, Sports & Culture of San-Mateo

• The Objective Restaurant Scene Offers a mix of local coffee shops and casual dining
• The Number of Independent Restaurants are 40 scattered around San-Mateo
• The Popular Sports Team is San Mateo High School
• Top Level Political Climate in San-Mateo can be described as politically mixed area focused on housing and local governance
• San-Mateo’s Longer standing religious establishment is San Mateo United Methodist Church

Whether you’re a foodie wanting fancy cuisine or a sports nut who can’t miss the local team’s home game, see if your interests line up with what the city offers.

Perk #11: San-Mateo Parks & Green Spaces

• Did you know San-Mateo has 40 Parks?
• Central Park San Mateo is San-Mateo’s Green Space Center
• The local favorite Farmers Market is San Mateo Farmers Market normally open Saturday 9am-1pm
• Outdoor Activities that both weekend warriors are pro’s can enjoy are Hiking, cycling, and outdoor markets

Love fresh air? A city investing in parks and markets can be a sanity-saver. If you prefer the indoors, maybe it’s less of a draw—but I still say fresh produce is never a bad thing.

Perk #12: San-Mateo Neighborhoods Pace & Proximity

• The Pace of Life in San-Mateo can be described as moderate suburban lifestyle with diverse shopping and dining
• 3 Family-Friendly Activities anyone can enjoy in San-Mateo hiking local trails community sports events local fairs
• The Cities people commute to from San-Mateo are San-Bruno 6 miles away Foster-City 3 miles away Redwood-City 10 miles away

Neighborhood pace can range from laid-back suburbs to frantic downtown vibes. If you need a quick getaway, big neighboring cities can scratch that itch for a weekend change of scene.

8 Drawbacks about San-Mateo or are they?

No place is perfect. I rate these as important based on your location and type of work you do. They might not be negatives or positives for everyone.

1. Traffic/Commute Issues
   Maybe you read: slowdowns on Highway 92. If you hate gridlock, look at alternative routes or brace yourself with podcasts.
2. Natural Disaster or Extreme Weather
   San-Mateo’s Earthquakes risk could be minimal or major. Dig more on that is your eyebrow just went up.
3. Pricey Neighborhoods
   If San Mateo is out of your price point, you might consider these places nearby San-Mateo are San-Bruno 6 miles away Foster-City 3 miles away Redwood-City 10 miles away.
4. Crime Rate Concerns
   With a 30 of 100, some neighborhoods might feel safer than others. Everyone has a different tolerance for this.
5. Harsh Climate Contrasts
   San-Mateo has 0 days in a row below freezing and 8 days above 90 degrees. This might be your heaven or your nightmare. Some people can’t stand snow, while others pray for it.
6. Limited Extra Funds
   After general costs of living here in San-Mateo people have an average (positive or negative) $4000 in positive cash flow left over in income to spend or pay off. Economics will make or break you here.
7. Homelessness or Social Challenges
   300 homeless people living in San-Mateo. It can be tough for the community—no easy solutions.
8. Cultural/Political Mismatch
   The general politically mixed area focused on housing and local governance could change but probably not quickly. We all go thru cycles in our lifestyle and outlook. Think about this and your future outlook before a move to San-Mateo.

Retiree & Senior Life in San-Mateo

• Retiree Tax Benefits say seniors can might qualify for income tax breaks based on retirement income
• The most established Senior Citizen Community is Atria San Mateo
• San Mateo Senior Center provides activities wellness classes and community resources for older adults

If you’re in (or nearing) retirement, see if the city provides property tax breaks or comfy 55+ communities. Some places cater heavily to seniors, others less so.

Moving to San-Mateo, California?

If San-Mateo, California ir your next home or you are packing up, Let Allied Van Lines Help

As someone who’s hauled half his life across state lines more times than I can recall, let me say that Allied Van Lines simplifies the process. From big bulky couches to fragile antiques, they’ve got you covered.

A quick quote or phone call might be all you need to turn your daydream into reality. If you see me around San-Mateo, California, say hi—I’m the guy who once moved with nothing but a backpack and a guitar. Good luck on your new adventure!