San Mateo, CA

The gorgeous city of San Mateo, CA, is known for its mellow weather and scenic views. The original inhabitants were the Ohline Indians who migrated to the city due to its idyllic climate and the freshwater creeks. As the railroad system linked San Mateo to the rest of the United States in 1863, it brought many more people to settle down here.

San Mateo is undoubtedly one of the wealthiest places to live in the United States. The median home price in San Mateo is around $1,419,025. This is much more than the U.S. average of $376,286 and the state median house price of $730,840.

Home appreciation in the last 10 years has been approximately 5.2%. Most homes sell in 19 days – generally for the listed price. That’s how competitive the San Mateo real estate market is! San Mateo’s homeownership rate is 54.9%.

The reason for the expensive housing is that San Mateo is a place many people want to live in. It offers them lower crime rates and higher quality of life. San Mateo has a 10% lower crime rate than the national average.

The average rent in San Mateo is about $3,200. Of course, the rent trends fluctuate up and down between 1% and 2% depending on the neighborhood and the size of the place you want to rent.

San Mateo lies in the center of the San Francisco Bay Area aka the Silicon Valley and offers a lot of good job opportunities in the field of technology, health care, and education.

City highlights

San Mateo, located in San Mateo County, is a vibrant city – thanks to its breathtaking views, a rich variety of cultural attractions, parks, and water bodies. The city offers a good mix of urban-suburban vibes. It has a happening downtown on one hand and serene meadows on the other. Basically, San Mateo has something for everyone.

You can enjoy outdoor activities in the Coyote Point Recreation Area and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. If you’re more of an indoorsy kind of person, you can visit the San Mateo Main Library or the Museum of San Carlos History for a great educational experience. And as the day sets, you can enjoy a delicious meal at any of the amazing restaurants.

If you’re looking for a place to make wonderful memories, San Mateo offers the ideal setting. It’s especially a great place for young professionals and families due to the close proximity to San Jose and San Francisco, and top-rated educational institutions.

Geographic location

San Mateo County is located just 16 miles south of San Francisco – on the western shore of San Francisco Bay. It encompasses the suburban communities of the Bay, including Silicon Valley – the heart of the tech industry.

Climate

San Mateo has a Mediterranean-type warm, temperate climate. The summer months are comfortable and arid. You can experience an average high temperature of 71°F and a low temperature of 55°F. The winter months are cold and wet with a high of 59°F and a low temperature of 44°F. The region gets about 24 inches of rainfall per year.

The most pleasant months are August, July, and September, while the least comfortable months are January and December. Having said that, the overall temperatures are mild. This is one of the biggest reasons that many people wish to migrate to San Mateo.

Demography

San Mateo’s population was approximately 102,398 in 2020. That brought the population density to 8,412 people per square mile. Since then, there has been considerable population growth – almost by 9.2%.

The median age of San Mateo residents is 39.1 (more than the U.S. median age of 37.4) and the number of people per household comes to about 2.6.

Cost of Living

When compared to the average cost of living in California, living in San Mateo isn’t the most economical choice. San Mateo has a 48% higher cost of living than the rest of California.

The high prices are primarily due to the hot housing market. Incredibly, housing is about 217% more expensive than the national average and 108% more expensive than the average in California. And the market is getting more fierce year after year.

Generally, the income of the residents ranges from $1,716,298 to $2,258,981 – the median income being $1,969,390. Keep in mind that salaries depend on the employee’s job description, company, location, and individual skills as well as qualifications.

Transportation

The most convenient way to get around San Mateo is by car. Other popular ways of getting around include cycling and walking. The city has an average walk score of 68. The most walkable neighborhoods include Downtown San Mateo, North Central, and Hayward Park. There is also an option of using public transit such as SamTrans & Paratransit, Caltrain, and BART.

Schools

San Mateo has some top-notch schools to boast of including College Park Elementary School, Borel Middle School, Aragon High School, and Hilldale High School. These San Mateo schools are rated well based on their high test scores, diversity, and preparedness for the next grade. Some good private schools include Futures Academy and All Are Friends Montessori.

What is the city like?

San Mateo is a large suburb on the Peninsula that offers the best of both worlds – big-city amenities and small-town peace and quiet. If you’re looking for a fun weekend, Downtown should be your choice. Due to the many eateries and businesses there, it’s really popular among young people.

The area also features a variety of building architectural styles, a lovely Central Park, a Japanese tea garden, children’s playgrounds, and tennis courts.

San Mateo is the perfect place to raise families. The community supports children and parents alike. It’s without a doubt one of the safest, the most family-friendly suburbs to live in.

Although buying a home here can be expensive, the city is beautiful, clean, and calm. Good schools, great neighborhoods, a liberal as well as diverse cultural scene, and tons of job opportunities make San Mateo a lovely community to live, work, and enjoy in.