Population

San Mateo

103,555

Carlsbad

114,500

Median Income

San Mateo

$152,669

Carlsbad

$139,326

Home Value

San Mateo

$1,563,200

Carlsbad

$1,156,900

Rent

San Mateo

$3,079

Carlsbad

$2,678

Crime Rate

San Mateo

2.43

Carlsbad

1.99

Cost of Living

San Mateo

257.9

Carlsbad

250.2

Avg Temp

San Mateo

N/A

Carlsbad

N/A

Unemployment

San Mateo

4.3%

Carlsbad

6.3%

Loading map…

How Similar Are San Mateo & Carlsbad?

Carlsbad is San Mateo's #21 most similar city

4/10

4 of 10 key metrics match within 10%

Population

👥

San Mateo

103,555

vs

Carlsbad

114,500

Match · 10% difference

Both cities have similar populations — San Mateo at 103,555 and Carlsbad at 114,500.

Violent Crime

San Mateo

2.43

vs

Carlsbad

1.99

Different · 18% difference
🚨

San Mateo has a 18% higher violent crime than Carlsbad.

Property Crime

🔒

San Mateo

18.83

vs

Carlsbad

15.11

Different · 20% difference

San Mateo has a 20% higher property crime than Carlsbad.

Political Leaning

San Mateo

23.2%

vs

Carlsbad

40.2%

Different · 42% difference
🗳️

Both cities lean Democratic, but Carlsbad has a stronger Democratic lean (42% difference).

Unemployment

💼

San Mateo

4.3%

vs

Carlsbad

6.3%

Different · 31% difference

Carlsbad has a 31% higher unemployment than San Mateo.

Median Income

San Mateo

$152,669

vs

Carlsbad

$139,326

Match · 9% difference
💰

Both cities have similar median income — just a 9% difference.

Home Values

🏠

San Mateo

$1,563,200

vs

Carlsbad

$1,156,900

Different · 26% difference

San Mateo has a 26% higher home values than Carlsbad.

Education

San Mateo

42.1%

vs

Carlsbad

43.6%

Match · 3% difference
🎓

Both cities have similar education — just a 3% difference.

Demographics

🌍

San Mateo

41.2%

vs

Carlsbad

71.0%

Different · 42% difference

Carlsbad has a 42% higher demographics than San Mateo.

Cost of Living

San Mateo

257.9

vs

Carlsbad

250.2

Match · 3% difference
💵

Both cities have similar cost of living — just a 3% difference.

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

At a Glance

0

San Mateo

vsof 8

0

Carlsbad

Carlsbad leads in 4 of 8 categories

Cost of Living & Affordability — Carlsbad leads

Source: City Stats Index / HUD

Carlsbad has a fair market rent (1br) of $2,459 vs $2,977 in San Mateo (21% lower). Carlsbad has a fair market rent (2br) of $3,001 vs $3,604 in San Mateo (20% lower). Carlsbad scores 139.0 on the transportation index (100 = national avg) vs 150.4 in San Mateo.

Overall Cost Index

San Mateo257.9
Carlsbad250.2

Housing Index

San Mateo400.0
Carlsbad400.0

Food Index

San Mateo166.7
Carlsbad156.5

Transportation Index

San Mateo150.4
Carlsbad139.0

Healthcare Index

San Mateo153.4
Carlsbad145.2

Utilities Index

San Mateo200.0
Carlsbad193.9

Living Wage (1 Adult)

San Mateo$113,477
Carlsbad$110,077

Living Wage (Family of 4)

San Mateo$268,218
Carlsbad$260,183

Fair Market Rent (1BR)

San Mateo$2,977
Carlsbad$2,459

Fair Market Rent (2BR)

San Mateo$3,604
Carlsbad$3,001

Housing Market — Carlsbad leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

San Mateo has a median home value of $1,563,200 vs $1,156,900 in Carlsbad (35% higher). Carlsbad has a single-family homes of 69.2% compared to 51.0% in San Mateo. Carlsbad has a median property tax of $7,830 vs $9,646 in San Mateo (23% lower).

Median Home Value

San Mateo$1,563,200
Carlsbad$1,156,900

Median Rent

San Mateo$3,079
Carlsbad$2,678

Median Property Tax

San Mateo$9,646
Carlsbad$7,830

Owner-Occupied

San Mateo50.8%
Carlsbad63.3%

Vacancy Rate

San Mateo6.3%
Carlsbad7.3%

Single-Family Homes

San Mateo51.0%
Carlsbad69.2%

Jobs & Economy — San Mateo leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

San Mateo has a unemployment rate of 4.3% compared to 6.3% in Carlsbad. Carlsbad has a work from home of 29.0% compared to 22.3% in San Mateo. Carlsbad has a poverty rate of 6.9% compared to 7.9% in San Mateo.

Median Household Income

San Mateo$152,669
Carlsbad$139,326

Per Capita Income

San Mateo$80,312
Carlsbad$70,896

Poverty Rate

San Mateo7.9%
Carlsbad6.9%

Unemployment Rate

San Mateo4.3%
Carlsbad6.3%

Labor Force

San Mateo59,457
Carlsbad59,048

Mean Commute

San Mateo21 min
Carlsbad20 min

Work from Home

San Mateo22.3%
Carlsbad29.0%

Private Sector

San Mateo98.0%
Carlsbad96.5%

Government Sector

San Mateo46.7%
Carlsbad44.8%

Crime & Safety — Carlsbad leads

Source: FBI UCR

Carlsbad has a murder rate (per 1k) of 0.01 compared to 0.05 in San Mateo. Carlsbad has a robbery rate (per 1k) of 0.35 compared to 0.74 in San Mateo. San Mateo has a burglary rate (per 1k) of 0.98 compared to 2.36 in Carlsbad.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)

San Mateo2.43
Carlsbad1.99

Property Crime Rate (per 1K)

San Mateo18.83
Carlsbad15.11

Murder Rate (per 1K)

San Mateo0.05
Carlsbad0.01

Robbery Rate (per 1K)

San Mateo0.74
Carlsbad0.35

Assault Rate (per 1K)

San Mateo1.38
Carlsbad1.57

Burglary Rate (per 1K)

San Mateo0.98
Carlsbad2.36

Larceny Rate (per 1K)

San Mateo15.78
Carlsbad11.66

Violent Crime Clearance

San Mateo44.0%
Carlsbad83.1%

Property Crime Clearance

San Mateo21.9%
Carlsbad15.3%

Weather & Climate

Source: NOAA / Open-Meteo

Avg Annual Temperature

San MateoN/A
CarlsbadN/A

Avg Annual High

San MateoN/A
CarlsbadN/A

Avg Annual Low

San MateoN/A
CarlsbadN/A

Sunny Days per Year

San MateoN/A
CarlsbadN/A

Annual Rainfall

San MateoN/A
CarlsbadN/A

Annual Snowfall

San MateoN/A
CarlsbadN/A

Avg Humidity

San MateoN/A
CarlsbadN/A

Schools & Education

Source: NCES / U.S. Census Bureau

Carlsbad has a bachelor's degree or higher of 43.6% compared to 42.1% in San Mateo. San Mateo has a high school diploma or higher of 51.0% compared to 50.1% in Carlsbad.

Public Schools

San Mateo0
Carlsbad0

Avg Student-Teacher Ratio

San MateoN/A
CarlsbadN/A

Colleges & Universities

San Mateo0
Carlsbad0

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

San Mateo42.1%
Carlsbad43.6%

High School Diploma or Higher

San Mateo51.0%
Carlsbad50.1%

Demographics & Community

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Carlsbad has a population of 114,500, about 1.1x the size of San Mateo (103,555). San Mateo skews younger with a median age of 38.0 vs 42.8.

Population

San Mateo103,555
Carlsbad114,500

Median Age

San Mateo38
Carlsbad43

Avg Household Size

San Mateo2.6
Carlsbad2.6

Married Population

San Mateo42.6%
Carlsbad48.2%

Foreign Born

San Mateo36.6%
Carlsbad14.5%

White

San Mateo41.2%
Carlsbad71.0%

Black

San Mateo1.5%
Carlsbad1.0%

Hispanic

San Mateo26.8%
Carlsbad16.8%

Asian

San Mateo27.1%
Carlsbad9.8%

San Mateo

Carlsbad

Healthcare — San Mateo leads

Source: CMS Hospital Compare

San Mateo: 4.8 vs Carlsbad: 3.0 for avg cms rating (out of 5). San Mateo: 5 vs Carlsbad: 4 for with emergency services.

Nearby Hospitals

San Mateo5
Carlsbad5

Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)

San Mateo4.8
Carlsbad3.0

With Emergency Services

San Mateo5
Carlsbad4

Transportation & Commute — Carlsbad leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

San Mateo has a public transit of 6.1% compared to 0.8% in Carlsbad. San Mateo has a bicycle of 0.7% compared to 0.5% in Carlsbad. Carlsbad has a work from home of 29.0% compared to 22.3% in San Mateo.

Mean Commute Time

San Mateo21 min
Carlsbad20 min

Drive Alone

San Mateo58.5%
Carlsbad62.3%

Public Transit

San Mateo6.1%
Carlsbad0.8%

Bicycle

San Mateo0.7%
Carlsbad0.5%

Work from Home

San Mateo22.3%
Carlsbad29.0%

Airports

San Mateo0
Carlsbad0

Cities Similar to San Mateo, CA

Compare San Mateo 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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