Population

Alameda

76,876

San Mateo

103,555

Median Income

Alameda

$132,015

San Mateo

$152,669

Home Value

Alameda

$1,203,900

San Mateo

$1,563,200

Rent

Alameda

$2,394

San Mateo

$3,079

Crime Rate

Alameda

3.17

San Mateo

2.43

Cost of Living

Alameda

247.5

San Mateo

257.9

Avg Temp

Alameda

N/A

San Mateo

N/A

Unemployment

Alameda

5.0%

San Mateo

4.3%

Loading map…

How Similar Are Alameda & San Mateo?

San Mateo is Alameda's #15 most similar city

4/10

4 of 10 key metrics match within 10%

Population

👥

Alameda

76,876

vs

San Mateo

103,555

Different · 26% difference

San Mateo has a 26% larger population than Alameda.

Violent Crime

Alameda

3.17

vs

San Mateo

2.43

Different · 23% difference
🚨

Alameda has a 23% higher violent crime than San Mateo.

Property Crime

🔒

Alameda

49.14

vs

San Mateo

18.83

Different · 62% difference

Alameda's property crime is significantly higher than San Mateo's — 62% difference.

Political Leaning

Alameda

21.0%

vs

San Mateo

23.2%

Match · 9% difference
🗳️

Both cities lean Democratic with similar vote shares — 9% difference.

Unemployment

💼

Alameda

5.0%

vs

San Mateo

4.3%

Different · 15% difference

Alameda has a 15% higher unemployment than San Mateo.

Median Income

Alameda

$132,015

vs

San Mateo

$152,669

Different · 14% difference
💰

San Mateo has a 14% higher median income than Alameda.

Home Values

🏠

Alameda

$1,203,900

vs

San Mateo

$1,563,200

Different · 23% difference

San Mateo has a 23% higher home values than Alameda.

Education

Alameda

43.8%

vs

San Mateo

42.1%

Match · 4% difference
🎓

Both cities have similar education — just a 4% difference.

Demographics

🌍

Alameda

43.4%

vs

San Mateo

41.2%

Match · 5% difference

Both cities have similar demographics — just a 5% difference.

Cost of Living

Alameda

247.5

vs

San Mateo

257.9

Match · 4% difference
💵

Both cities have similar cost of living — just a 4% difference.

4 out of 10 key metrics match within 10%. Alameda and San Mateo share several key characteristics.

At a Glance

0

Alameda

vsof 8

0

San Mateo

Cost of Living & Affordability — Alameda leads

Source: City Stats Index / HUD

Alameda has a fair market rent (1br) of $2,385 vs $2,977 in San Mateo (20% lower). Alameda has a fair market rent (2br) of $2,912 vs $3,604 in San Mateo (19% lower). Alameda scores 150.9 on the food index (100 = national avg) vs 166.7 in San Mateo.

Overall Cost Index

Alameda247.5
San Mateo257.9

Housing Index

Alameda400.0
San Mateo400.0

Food Index

Alameda150.9
San Mateo166.7

Transportation Index

Alameda142.9
San Mateo150.4

Healthcare Index

Alameda140.7
San Mateo153.4

Utilities Index

Alameda190.5
San Mateo200.0

Living Wage (1 Adult)

Alameda$108,885
San Mateo$113,477

Living Wage (Family of 4)

Alameda$257,364
San Mateo$268,218

Fair Market Rent (1BR)

Alameda$2,385
San Mateo$2,977

Fair Market Rent (2BR)

Alameda$2,912
San Mateo$3,604

Housing Market

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

San Mateo has a median home value of $1,563,200 vs $1,203,900 in Alameda (23% higher). Alameda has a median rent of $2,394 vs $3,079 in San Mateo (22% lower). San Mateo has a vacancy rate of 6.3% compared to 7.2% in Alameda.

Median Home Value

Alameda$1,203,900
San Mateo$1,563,200

Median Rent

Alameda$2,394
San Mateo$3,079

Median Property Tax

Alameda$9,587
San Mateo$9,646

Owner-Occupied

Alameda49.0%
San Mateo50.8%

Vacancy Rate

Alameda7.2%
San Mateo6.3%

Single-Family Homes

Alameda54.5%
San Mateo51.0%

Jobs & Economy — San Mateo leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

San Mateo: 59,457 vs Alameda: 41,720 for labor force. Alameda has a work from home of 28.1% compared to 22.3% in San Mateo. San Mateo has a unemployment rate of 4.3% compared to 5.0% in Alameda.

Median Household Income

Alameda$132,015
San Mateo$152,669

Per Capita Income

Alameda$72,245
San Mateo$80,312

Poverty Rate

Alameda6.9%
San Mateo7.9%

Unemployment Rate

Alameda5.0%
San Mateo4.3%

Labor Force

Alameda41,720
San Mateo59,457

Mean Commute

Alameda23 min
San Mateo21 min

Work from Home

Alameda28.1%
San Mateo22.3%

Private Sector

Alameda86.6%
San Mateo98.0%

Government Sector

Alameda40.4%
San Mateo46.7%

Crime & Safety — San Mateo leads

Source: FBI UCR

San Mateo has a burglary rate (per 1k) of 0.98 compared to 2.58 in Alameda. San Mateo has a property crime rate (per 1k) of 18.83 compared to 49.14 in Alameda. San Mateo has a larceny rate (per 1k) of 15.78 compared to 33.78 in Alameda.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)

Alameda3.17
San Mateo2.43

Property Crime Rate (per 1K)

Alameda49.14
San Mateo18.83

Murder Rate (per 1K)

Alameda0.08
San Mateo0.05

Robbery Rate (per 1K)

Alameda1.25
San Mateo0.74

Assault Rate (per 1K)

Alameda1.63
San Mateo1.38

Burglary Rate (per 1K)

Alameda2.58
San Mateo0.98

Larceny Rate (per 1K)

Alameda33.78
San Mateo15.78

Violent Crime Clearance

Alameda39.8%
San Mateo44.0%

Property Crime Clearance

Alameda6.3%
San Mateo21.9%

Weather & Climate

Source: NOAA / Open-Meteo

Avg Annual Temperature

AlamedaN/A
San MateoN/A

Avg Annual High

AlamedaN/A
San MateoN/A

Avg Annual Low

AlamedaN/A
San MateoN/A

Sunny Days per Year

AlamedaN/A
San MateoN/A

Annual Rainfall

AlamedaN/A
San MateoN/A

Annual Snowfall

AlamedaN/A
San MateoN/A

Avg Humidity

AlamedaN/A
San MateoN/A

Schools & Education — Alameda leads

Source: NCES / U.S. Census Bureau

Alameda has a bachelor's degree or higher of 43.8% compared to 42.1% in San Mateo. Alameda has a high school diploma or higher of 51.6% compared to 51.0% in San Mateo.

Public Schools

Alameda0
San Mateo0

Avg Student-Teacher Ratio

AlamedaN/A
San MateoN/A

Colleges & Universities

Alameda0
San Mateo0

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

Alameda43.8%
San Mateo42.1%

High School Diploma or Higher

Alameda51.6%
San Mateo51.0%

Demographics & Community

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

San Mateo has a population of 103,555, about 1.3x the size of Alameda (76,876). San Mateo skews younger with a median age of 38.0 vs 40.7.

Population

Alameda76,876
San Mateo103,555

Median Age

Alameda41
San Mateo38

Avg Household Size

Alameda2.5
San Mateo2.6

Married Population

Alameda44.1%
San Mateo42.6%

Foreign Born

Alameda25.4%
San Mateo36.6%

White

Alameda43.4%
San Mateo41.2%

Black

Alameda6.1%
San Mateo1.5%

Hispanic

Alameda14.2%
San Mateo26.8%

Asian

Alameda30.3%
San Mateo27.1%

Alameda

San Mateo

Healthcare — San Mateo leads

Source: CMS Hospital Compare

San Mateo: 4.8 vs Alameda: 2.8 for avg cms rating (out of 5). San Mateo: 5 vs Alameda: 4 for with emergency services.

Nearby Hospitals

Alameda5
San Mateo5

Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)

Alameda2.8
San Mateo4.8

With Emergency Services

Alameda4
San Mateo5

Transportation & Commute — Alameda leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Alameda has a bicycle of 2.5% compared to 0.7% in San Mateo. Alameda has a public transit of 12.2% compared to 6.1% in San Mateo. Alameda has a work from home of 28.1% compared to 22.3% in San Mateo.

Mean Commute Time

Alameda23 min
San Mateo21 min

Drive Alone

Alameda46.7%
San Mateo58.5%

Public Transit

Alameda12.2%
San Mateo6.1%

Bicycle

Alameda2.5%
San Mateo0.7%

Work from Home

Alameda28.1%
San Mateo22.3%

Airports

Alameda0
San Mateo0

Cities Similar to Alameda, CA

Compare Alameda against its closest statistical matches across demographics, income, crime, health, and more.

🧬

City Comparison

8-axis fingerprint: population, income, housing, crime, education, age, climate, and cost of living. Click legend items to toggle.

PopulationIncomeHome ValueSafetyEducationMedian AgeClimateCost of Living

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