Population

San Mateo

103,555

South Pasadena

26,297

Median Income

San Mateo

$152,669

South Pasadena

$128,105

Home Value

San Mateo

$1,563,200

South Pasadena

$1,545,100

Rent

San Mateo

$3,079

South Pasadena

$2,218

Crime Rate

San Mateo

2.43

South Pasadena

2.10

Cost of Living

San Mateo

257.9

South Pasadena

253.6

Avg Temp

San Mateo

N/A

South Pasadena

N/A

Unemployment

San Mateo

4.3%

South Pasadena

4.8%

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How Similar Are San Mateo & South Pasadena?

South Pasadena is San Mateo's #18 most similar city

3/10

3 of 10 key metrics match within 10%

Population

👥

San Mateo

103,555

vs

South Pasadena

26,297

Different · 75% difference

San Mateo (103,555) is about 3.9x larger than South Pasadena (26,297).

Violent Crime

San Mateo

2.43

vs

South Pasadena

2.10

Different · 14% difference
🚨

San Mateo has a 14% higher violent crime than South Pasadena.

Property Crime

🔒

San Mateo

18.83

vs

South Pasadena

25.13

Different · 25% difference

South Pasadena has a 25% higher property crime than San Mateo.

Political Leaning

San Mateo

23.2%

vs

South Pasadena

31.9%

Different · 27% difference
🗳️

Both cities lean Democratic, but South Pasadena has a stronger Democratic lean (27% difference).

Unemployment

💼

San Mateo

4.3%

vs

South Pasadena

4.8%

Different · 11% difference

South Pasadena has a 11% higher unemployment than San Mateo.

Median Income

San Mateo

$152,669

vs

South Pasadena

$128,105

Different · 16% difference
💰

San Mateo has a 16% higher median income than South Pasadena.

Home Values

🏠

San Mateo

$1,563,200

vs

South Pasadena

$1,545,100

Match · 1% difference

Both cities have similar home values — just a 1% difference.

Education

San Mateo

42.1%

vs

South Pasadena

52.7%

Different · 20% difference
🎓

South Pasadena has a 20% higher education than San Mateo.

Demographics

🌍

San Mateo

41.2%

vs

South Pasadena

41.0%

Match · 0% difference

Both cities have similar demographics — just a 0% difference.

Cost of Living

San Mateo

257.9

vs

South Pasadena

253.6

Match · 2% difference
💵

Both cities have similar cost of living — just a 2% difference.

3 out of 10 key metrics match within 10%. San Mateo and South Pasadena differ in most key areas.

At a Glance

0

San Mateo

vsof 8

0

South Pasadena

South Pasadena leads in 4 of 8 categories

Cost of Living & Affordability — South Pasadena leads

Source: City Stats Index / HUD

South Pasadena has a fair market rent (1br) of $2,085 vs $2,977 in San Mateo (43% lower). South Pasadena has a fair market rent (2br) of $2,601 vs $3,604 in San Mateo (39% lower). San Mateo scores 150.4 on the transportation index (100 = national avg) vs 195.8 in South Pasadena.

Overall Cost Index

San Mateo257.9
South Pasadena253.6

Housing Index

San Mateo400.0
South Pasadena400.0

Food Index

San Mateo166.7
South Pasadena147.9

Transportation Index

San Mateo150.4
South Pasadena195.8

Healthcare Index

San Mateo153.4
South Pasadena138.3

Utilities Index

San Mateo200.0
South Pasadena188.7

Living Wage (1 Adult)

San Mateo$113,477
South Pasadena$111,603

Living Wage (Family of 4)

San Mateo$268,218
South Pasadena$263,789

Fair Market Rent (1BR)

San Mateo$2,977
South Pasadena$2,085

Fair Market Rent (2BR)

San Mateo$3,604
South Pasadena$2,601

Housing Market — South Pasadena leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

South Pasadena has a median rent of $2,218 vs $3,079 in San Mateo (39% lower). San Mateo has a owner-occupied of 50.8% compared to 44.0% in South Pasadena. South Pasadena has a vacancy rate of 5.7% compared to 6.3% in San Mateo.

Median Home Value

San Mateo$1,563,200
South Pasadena$1,545,100

Median Rent

San Mateo$3,079
South Pasadena$2,218

Median Property Tax

San Mateo$9,646
South Pasadena$8,796

Owner-Occupied

San Mateo50.8%
South Pasadena44.0%

Vacancy Rate

San Mateo6.3%
South Pasadena5.7%

Single-Family Homes

San Mateo51.0%
South Pasadena51.3%

Jobs & Economy — San Mateo leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

San Mateo: 59,457 vs South Pasadena: 15,165 for labor force. South Pasadena has a poverty rate of 5.1% compared to 7.9% in San Mateo. San Mateo has a government sector of 46.7% compared to 36.7% in South Pasadena.

Median Household Income

San Mateo$152,669
South Pasadena$128,105

Per Capita Income

San Mateo$80,312
South Pasadena$76,583

Poverty Rate

San Mateo7.9%
South Pasadena5.1%

Unemployment Rate

San Mateo4.3%
South Pasadena4.8%

Labor Force

San Mateo59,457
South Pasadena15,165

Mean Commute

San Mateo21 min
South PasadenaN/A

Work from Home

San Mateo22.3%
South Pasadena26.2%

Private Sector

San Mateo98.0%
South Pasadena83.5%

Government Sector

San Mateo46.7%
South Pasadena36.7%

Crime & Safety — San Mateo leads

Source: FBI UCR

San Mateo has a property crime clearance of 21.9% compared to 11.7% in South Pasadena. San Mateo has a burglary rate (per 1k) of 0.98 compared to 3.33 in South Pasadena. South Pasadena has a murder rate (per 1k) of 0.04 compared to 0.05 in San Mateo.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)

San Mateo2.43
South Pasadena2.10

Property Crime Rate (per 1K)

San Mateo18.83
South Pasadena25.13

Murder Rate (per 1K)

San Mateo0.05
South Pasadena0.04

Robbery Rate (per 1K)

San Mateo0.74
South Pasadena0.75

Assault Rate (per 1K)

San Mateo1.38
South Pasadena1.11

Burglary Rate (per 1K)

San Mateo0.98
South Pasadena3.33

Larceny Rate (per 1K)

San Mateo15.78
South Pasadena18.91

Violent Crime Clearance

San Mateo44.0%
South Pasadena52.8%

Property Crime Clearance

San Mateo21.9%
South Pasadena11.7%

Weather & Climate

Source: NOAA / Open-Meteo

Avg Annual Temperature

San MateoN/A
South PasadenaN/A

Avg Annual High

San MateoN/A
South PasadenaN/A

Avg Annual Low

San MateoN/A
South PasadenaN/A

Sunny Days per Year

San MateoN/A
South PasadenaN/A

Annual Rainfall

San MateoN/A
South PasadenaN/A

Annual Snowfall

San MateoN/A
South PasadenaN/A

Avg Humidity

San MateoN/A
South PasadenaN/A

Schools & Education — South Pasadena leads

Source: NCES / U.S. Census Bureau

South Pasadena has a bachelor's degree or higher of 52.7% compared to 42.1% in San Mateo. South Pasadena has a high school diploma or higher of 57.6% compared to 51.0% in San Mateo.

Public Schools

San Mateo0
South Pasadena0

Avg Student-Teacher Ratio

San MateoN/A
South PasadenaN/A

Colleges & Universities

San Mateo0
South Pasadena0

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

San Mateo42.1%
South Pasadena52.7%

High School Diploma or Higher

San Mateo51.0%
South Pasadena57.6%

Demographics & Community

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

San Mateo has a population of 103,555, about 3.9x the size of South Pasadena (26,297). San Mateo skews younger with a median age of 38.0 vs 40.3.

Population

San Mateo103,555
South Pasadena26,297

Median Age

San Mateo38
South Pasadena40

Avg Household Size

San Mateo2.6
South Pasadena2.5

Married Population

San Mateo42.6%
South Pasadena43.3%

Foreign Born

San Mateo36.6%
South Pasadena24.0%

White

San Mateo41.2%
South Pasadena41.0%

Black

San Mateo1.5%
South Pasadena3.5%

Hispanic

San Mateo26.8%
South Pasadena20.6%

Asian

San Mateo27.1%
South Pasadena32.9%

San Mateo

South Pasadena

Healthcare — San Mateo leads

Source: CMS Hospital Compare

San Mateo: 4.8 vs South Pasadena: 2.6 for avg cms rating (out of 5). San Mateo: 5 vs South Pasadena: 3 for with emergency services.

Nearby Hospitals

San Mateo5
South Pasadena5

Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)

San Mateo4.8
South Pasadena2.6

With Emergency Services

San Mateo5
South Pasadena3

Transportation & Commute — South Pasadena leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

San Mateo has a public transit of 6.1% compared to 3.5% in South Pasadena. South Pasadena has a bicycle of 1.5% compared to 0.7% in San Mateo. South Pasadena has a work from home of 26.2% compared to 22.3% in San Mateo.

Mean Commute Time

San Mateo21 min
South PasadenaN/A

Drive Alone

San Mateo58.5%
South Pasadena61.0%

Public Transit

San Mateo6.1%
South Pasadena3.5%

Bicycle

San Mateo0.7%
South Pasadena1.5%

Work from Home

San Mateo22.3%
South Pasadena26.2%

Airports

San Mateo0
South Pasadena0

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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