Compare

94404 vs 94402

Which is the better fit for you?

94404 — Foster City, CA
58
Area Score
Bottom 45% nationally
94402 — San Mateo, CA
58
Area Score
Bottom 41% nationally

94404 and 94402 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.

Signals

94404
94402
Opportunity
68 · Top 23%
vs
69 · Top 22%
Growth
27 · Bottom 14%
vs
29 · Bottom 15%
Climate
89 · Top 8%
vs
89 · Top 8%
Physical resilience
37 · Bottom 30%
vs
37 · Bottom 30%
Housing affordability
47 · Bottom 10%
vs
40 · Bottom 6%
Access
99 · Top 8%
vs
99 · Top 8%
Economic stability
81 · Top 9%
vs
75 · Top 21%

Measured values

Metric9440494402Source period
Population35,88125,4752024 ACS 5-Year
Median household income$192,332$172,5222024 ACS 5-Year
Per capita income$99,796$109,4982024 ACS 5-Year
Population density8,249/sq mi5,045/sq mi2024 ACS 5-Year
Median home value$1,714,400$2,000,0012024 ACS 5-Year
Median gross rent$3,501$3,5012024 ACS 5-Year
Homeownership rate51.2%58.4%2024 ACS 5-Year
Unemployment rate3.7%3.6%June 2026
Employment change (year over year)-0.9%-0.9%June 2026
Bachelor's degree or higher74.3%68.6%2024 ACS 5-Year
Poverty rate4.3%5.2%2024 ACS 5-Year
Housing units permitted (12 months)89812 months ending July 2026
Permits per 1,000 residents0.21.012 months ending July 2026
Permit change (year over year)0.0%-34.7%12 months ending July 2026
Average July high73°F73°F1991-2020 Normals
Average January low45°F45°F1991-2020 Normals
Annual precipitation19.6"19.6"1991-2020 Normals
Distance to major airport7 mi6 miNASR current cycle
Average commute31.2 min28.9 min2024 ACS 5-Year
Median age39.840.82024 ACS 5-Year
Public schools672024-25 school year
Students per teacher21.9121.592024-25 school year
Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility17.2%32.6%2024-25 school year

A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.

Physical risk tradeoff

94404

Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.

94402

Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.

Your best match

Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.

94404
64
Your Score
58
Area Score
94402
63
Your Score
58
Area Score

Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.

Full profiles: 94404 — Foster City, CA · 94402 — San Mateo, CA · How this is calculated: methodology

94404 vs 94402: Location Comparison | AreaProfile