Gainesville, FL 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.
Gainesville
68
#1355 nationally
San Mateo
63
#1808 nationally
San Mateo leads in median household income ($149,152 vs $43,783). San Mateo leads in crime level (6.7 vs 20.2). Gainesville leads in cost of living index (104 vs 249).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Gainesville, FL | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68 (#1355) | 63 (#1808) |
| Population | 145,812 | 101,327 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $298,659 | $1,685,162 |
| Median Household Income | $43,783 | $149,152 |
| Average Commute | 18.8 min | 28.5 min |
| Walk Score | 37 | 68 |
| Crime Level | 20.2 | 6.7 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 104 | 249 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+21.0 | D+50.3 |
D+
68 Score
Gainesville, FL
Mid-size Florida city with community character
Median Home
$298,659
Population
145,812
Crime
High
Walk Score
37
Southeast
View Gainesville, FL →
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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