Suburb
San Mateo
- A+Overall Grade
- Suburb of San Francisco, CA
- 58 reviews
- Public SchoolsA+
- Crime & SafetyC+
- HousingC
- NightlifeA+
- Good for FamiliesA
- DiversityA+
- JobsB
- WeatherA+
- Cost of LivingD
- Health & FitnessA+
- Outdoor ActivitiesA
- CommuteA-
Real Estate
Median Home Value
$1,007,200
National
$184,700Median Rent
$2,301
National
$949Sponsored Mortgage Options for San Mateo
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San Mateo Rankings
Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.
Crime & Safety
Crime & Safety
C+
Based on violent and property crime rates.
Residents
Working in San Mateo
Jobs
B
Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
Median Household Income
$115,167
National
$55,322San Mateo Reviews
58 reviews
All Categories
PROS: Vibrant downtown; most ethnicities of food found in city or area; multiplex theater; lots of shopping, including bookstores; good public transportation; great parks, with events including free concerts during summer and outdoor ice rink in winter; community college (CSM); multiple farmers markets; large diversity of people & cultures; beautiful weather; 3 great community theaters nearby: Hillbarn Theatre in Foster City and Broadway by the Bay and Redwood City Community Theater in Redwood City. CONS: Heavy traffic during morning & afternoon commutes, creating dangerous & rude drivers detouring themselves to smaller residential streets to avoid freeway & main arteries, posing safety hazards to pedestrians and bike riders; recent increase in auto break-ins, although this is peninsula-wide problem; VERY expensive rent & home prices ($2K+ for one-bedroom apartments); downtown could use more venues with live music and/or comedy acts.
The streets are clean compared to other areas in the SF Bay Area. The commute to various cities nearby is not bad, usually averages out to 15 min. For the most part, the neighborhoods are quiet as well. I would like to see more community involvement and diversity.
San Mateo is the ideal place to raise a family with it's outstanding schools, close knit community, diversity, beautiful parks, the Marina Lagoon, an amazing destination downtown, and a plethora of restaurants to dine at.
In my neighborhood, NorthEast Parkside, the homes are all well-kept (yes, they are all well over a million dollars, but money doesn't buy everything), and genuinely good neighbors who are compassionate and caring. I have the key to my neighbor's house and they have mine... that is just how much we trust and rely on each other.
The only drawback to San Mateo is, of course, the high cost of living and housing prices. The median price of a home in San Mateo is currently $1.4 million so those looking to enter the housing market are finding it nearly impossible, many are driven out of the market which is unfortunate.
In my neighborhood, NorthEast Parkside, the homes are all well-kept (yes, they are all well over a million dollars, but money doesn't buy everything), and genuinely good neighbors who are compassionate and caring. I have the key to my neighbor's house and they have mine... that is just how much we trust and rely on each other.
The only drawback to San Mateo is, of course, the high cost of living and housing prices. The median price of a home in San Mateo is currently $1.4 million so those looking to enter the housing market are finding it nearly impossible, many are driven out of the market which is unfortunate.