San Mateo, CA vs Sunnyvale, 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.
San Mateo
63
#1808 nationally
Sunnyvale
66.4
#1551 nationally
San Mateo leads in walk score (68 vs 54). Sunnyvale leads in cost of living index (205 vs 249). Sunnyvale leads in median household income ($168,924 vs $149,152).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | San Mateo, CA | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 63 (#1808) | 66.4 (#1551) |
| Population | 101,327 | 155,805 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,685,162 | $2,050,814 |
| Median Household Income | $149,152 | $168,924 |
| Average Commute | 28.5 min | 25.6 min |
| Walk Score | 68 | 54 |
| Crime Level | 6.7 | Low |
| School Rating | N/A | 8.6 |
| Cost of Living Index | 249 | 205 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+50.3 | D+40.0 |
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 →
D
66.4 Score
Sunnyvale, CA
Heart of tech innovation
Median Home
$2,050,814
Population
155,805
Crime
Low
Schools
A
Pacific
View Sunnyvale, CA →
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