San Rafael and San Mateo 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
Measured values
| Metric | San Rafael | San Mateo | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 60,433 | 103,105 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $119,435 | $153,504 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $70,031 | $84,247 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,643/sq mi | 8,497/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $1,355,600 | $1,618,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,377 | $3,077 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 53.0% | 49.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% | 3.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.0% | -0.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 49.7% | 57.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.7% | 8.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 134 | 98 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.2 | 1.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 436.0% | -34.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 66°F | 73°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 47°F | 45°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 22.9" | 19.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 24 mi | 5 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 27.6 min | 28.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 43.2 | 38.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 15 | 19 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 20.70 | 20.71 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 58.6% | 37.9% | 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
San Rafael
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, coastal flooding, inland flooding.
San Mateo
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Your best match
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Full profiles: San Rafael, CA · San Mateo, CA · How this is calculated: methodology