Foster City, CA vs San Mateo, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Foster City
63.9
#1730 nationally
San Mateo
63
#1808 nationally
Foster City leads in crime level (1.9 vs 6.7). San Mateo leads in walk score (68 vs 50). Foster City leads in median household income ($191,267 vs $149,152).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Foster City, CA | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 63.9 (#1730) | 63 (#1808) |
| Population | 32,180 | 101,327 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,863,228 | $1,685,162 |
| Median Household Income | $191,267 | $149,152 |
| Average Commute | 32.4 min | 28.5 min |
| Walk Score | 50 | 68 |
| Crime Level | 1.9 | 6.7 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 276 | 249 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+50.3 | D+50.3 |
D
63.9 Score
Foster City, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$1,863,228
Population
32,180
Crime
Low
Walk Score
50
Pacific
View Foster City, CA →
D
63 Score
San Mateo, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$1,685,162
Population
101,327
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
68
Pacific
View San Mateo, CA →
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