Population

South Pasadena

26,297

San Mateo

103,555

Median Income

South Pasadena

$128,105

San Mateo

$152,669

Home Value

South Pasadena

$1,545,100

San Mateo

$1,563,200

Rent

South Pasadena

$2,218

San Mateo

$3,079

Crime Rate

South Pasadena

2.10

San Mateo

2.43

Cost of Living

South Pasadena

253.6

San Mateo

257.9

Avg Temp

South Pasadena

N/A

San Mateo

N/A

Unemployment

South Pasadena

4.8%

San Mateo

4.3%

Loading map…

How Similar Are South Pasadena & San Mateo?

San Mateo is South Pasadena's #17 most similar city

3/10

3 of 10 key metrics match within 10%

Population

👥

South Pasadena

26,297

vs

San Mateo

103,555

Different · 75% difference

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

Violent Crime

South Pasadena

2.10

vs

San Mateo

2.43

Different · 14% difference
🚨

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

Property Crime

🔒

South Pasadena

25.13

vs

San Mateo

18.83

Different · 25% difference

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

Political Leaning

South Pasadena

31.9%

vs

San Mateo

23.2%

Different · 27% difference
🗳️

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

Unemployment

💼

South Pasadena

4.8%

vs

San Mateo

4.3%

Different · 11% difference

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

Median Income

South Pasadena

$128,105

vs

San Mateo

$152,669

Different · 16% difference
💰

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

Home Values

🏠

South Pasadena

$1,545,100

vs

San Mateo

$1,563,200

Match · 1% difference

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

Education

South Pasadena

52.7%

vs

San Mateo

42.1%

Different · 20% difference
🎓

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

Demographics

🌍

South Pasadena

41.0%

vs

San Mateo

41.2%

Match · 0% difference

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

Cost of Living

South Pasadena

253.6

vs

San Mateo

257.9

Match · 2% difference
💵

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

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

At a Glance

0

South Pasadena

vsof 8

0

San Mateo

South Pasadena leads in 4 of 8 categories

Cost of Living & Affordability — South Pasadena leads

Source: City Stats Index / HUD

San Mateo scores 150.4 on the transportation index (100 = national avg) vs 195.8 in South Pasadena. South Pasadena has a fair market rent (1br) of $2,085 vs $2,977 in San Mateo (30% lower). South Pasadena has a fair market rent (2br) of $2,601 vs $3,604 in San Mateo (28% lower).

Overall Cost Index

South Pasadena253.6
San Mateo257.9

Housing Index

South Pasadena400.0
San Mateo400.0

Food Index

South Pasadena147.9
San Mateo166.7

Transportation Index

South Pasadena195.8
San Mateo150.4

Healthcare Index

South Pasadena138.3
San Mateo153.4

Utilities Index

South Pasadena188.7
San Mateo200.0

Living Wage (1 Adult)

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

Living Wage (Family of 4)

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

Fair Market Rent (1BR)

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

Fair Market Rent (2BR)

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

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 (28% 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

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

Median Rent

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

Median Property Tax

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

Owner-Occupied

South Pasadena44.0%
San Mateo50.8%

Vacancy Rate

South Pasadena5.7%
San Mateo6.3%

Single-Family Homes

South Pasadena51.3%
San Mateo51.0%

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

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

Per Capita Income

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

Poverty Rate

South Pasadena5.1%
San Mateo7.9%

Unemployment Rate

South Pasadena4.8%
San Mateo4.3%

Labor Force

South Pasadena15,165
San Mateo59,457

Mean Commute

South PasadenaN/A
San Mateo21 min

Work from Home

South Pasadena26.2%
San Mateo22.3%

Private Sector

South Pasadena83.5%
San Mateo98.0%

Government Sector

South Pasadena36.7%
San Mateo46.7%

Crime & Safety — San Mateo leads

Source: FBI UCR

San Mateo has a burglary rate (per 1k) of 0.98 compared to 3.33 in South Pasadena. San Mateo has a property crime clearance of 21.9% compared to 11.7% in South Pasadena. San Mateo has a property crime rate (per 1k) of 18.83 compared to 25.13 in South Pasadena.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)

South Pasadena2.10
San Mateo2.43

Property Crime Rate (per 1K)

South Pasadena25.13
San Mateo18.83

Murder Rate (per 1K)

South Pasadena0.04
San Mateo0.05

Robbery Rate (per 1K)

South Pasadena0.75
San Mateo0.74

Assault Rate (per 1K)

South Pasadena1.11
San Mateo1.38

Burglary Rate (per 1K)

South Pasadena3.33
San Mateo0.98

Larceny Rate (per 1K)

South Pasadena18.91
San Mateo15.78

Violent Crime Clearance

South Pasadena52.8%
San Mateo44.0%

Property Crime Clearance

South Pasadena11.7%
San Mateo21.9%

Weather & Climate

Source: NOAA / Open-Meteo

Avg Annual Temperature

South PasadenaN/A
San MateoN/A

Avg Annual High

South PasadenaN/A
San MateoN/A

Avg Annual Low

South PasadenaN/A
San MateoN/A

Sunny Days per Year

South PasadenaN/A
San MateoN/A

Annual Rainfall

South PasadenaN/A
San MateoN/A

Annual Snowfall

South PasadenaN/A
San MateoN/A

Avg Humidity

South PasadenaN/A
San MateoN/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

South Pasadena0
San Mateo0

Avg Student-Teacher Ratio

South PasadenaN/A
San MateoN/A

Colleges & Universities

South Pasadena0
San Mateo0

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

South Pasadena52.7%
San Mateo42.1%

High School Diploma or Higher

South Pasadena57.6%
San Mateo51.0%

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

South Pasadena26,297
San Mateo103,555

Median Age

South Pasadena40
San Mateo38

Avg Household Size

South Pasadena2.5
San Mateo2.6

Married Population

South Pasadena43.3%
San Mateo42.6%

Foreign Born

South Pasadena24.0%
San Mateo36.6%

White

South Pasadena41.0%
San Mateo41.2%

Black

South Pasadena3.5%
San Mateo1.5%

Hispanic

South Pasadena20.6%
San Mateo26.8%

Asian

South Pasadena32.9%
San Mateo27.1%

South Pasadena

San Mateo

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

South Pasadena5
San Mateo5

Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)

South Pasadena2.6
San Mateo4.8

With Emergency Services

South Pasadena3
San Mateo5

Transportation & Commute — South Pasadena leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

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

Mean Commute Time

South PasadenaN/A
San Mateo21 min

Drive Alone

South Pasadena61.0%
San Mateo58.5%

Public Transit

South Pasadena3.5%
San Mateo6.1%

Bicycle

South Pasadena1.5%
San Mateo0.7%

Work from Home

South Pasadena26.2%
San Mateo22.3%

Airports

South Pasadena0
San Mateo0

Cities Similar to South Pasadena, CA

Compare South Pasadena 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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