1st Advantage MortgageSan Mateo County households have a median income of $158,855 and median rent of $2,922 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- San Mateo County, CA: the basics
- Paychecks and income spread in San Mateo County
- Renting and owning in San Mateo County
- How San Mateo County residents earn a living
- San Mateo County next to its neighbors
- Towns and communities in San Mateo County
- What a median San Mateo County budget can carry
- Local borrowing considerations for San Mateo County
- Who lives in San Mateo County, in numbers
- Checking a lender's license in California
- Checklist for San Mateo County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
San Mateo County, CA: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts San Mateo County's population at 742,340; only 14 of California's 58 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 449 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 1,655 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). San Mateo is the biggest of its 33 Census places, at roughly 103,105 people (14% of the county total).
Paychecks and income spread in San Mateo County
Half of San Mateo County households take in less than $158,855 a year and half take in more, 60% above the California median of $99,122. That places it 2nd among California's 58 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in San Mateo County | Difference from California |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 10.1% | -7.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 22.6% | -10.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.4% | -1.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 39.9% | +19.4 pts |
Some 10% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 67% have six-figure incomes. 6.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.0%). None of these numbers decides a San Mateo County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Renting and owning in San Mateo County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $2,922 in San Mateo County versus $2,036 statewide. 48% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 25% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $1,559,600, about 9.8 times the median household income. 58% of San Mateo County households own their home and 42% rent.
| Measure | San Mateo County | California | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $2,922/mo | $2,036/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $1,559,600 | $734,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 58% | 56% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 35% | 38% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 8% | 7% | n/a |
How San Mateo County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of San Mateo County residents, by industry, is professional and administrative services at 22% of workers, followed by education and health care (21%). Professional and administrative services stands out: 22% of workers here, versus 15% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.8% in San Mateo County. 16% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 24% work from home. 5.8% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | San Mateo County | Gap to California |
|---|---|---|
| Professional and administrative services | 22.0% | +7.5 pts |
| Education and health care | 21.4% | -0.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.5% | -1.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.8% | -1.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.5% | -1.3 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.5% | +0.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in San Mateo County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
San Mateo County next to its neighbors
Six nearby counties, 30 to 49 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Santa Clara County leads the group on income ($164,281), Santa Cruz County trails ($111,093), and San Mateo County out-earns 5 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Mateo County | - | $158,855 | $2,922/mo | 58% |
| Alameda County, CA | 30 mi | $129,367 | $2,357/mo | 54% |
| Santa Cruz County, CA | 34 mi | $111,093 | $2,264/mo | 60% |
| Santa Clara County, CA | 40 mi | $164,281 | $2,857/mo | 55% |
| Contra Costa County, CA | 42 mi | $127,229 | $2,375/mo | 68% |
| San Francisco County, CA | 42 mi | $140,970 | $2,476/mo | 38% |
| Marin County, CA | 49 mi | $149,091 | $2,668/mo | 65% |
Towns and communities in San Mateo County
The table lists the 14 largest of 33 Census places in San Mateo County, by population. Together all 33 hold about 725,367 people, so roughly 2% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $250,001 at the median in Hillsborough, $99,680 in Moss Beach. Median rent ranges from $1,196 in La Honda to $3,501 in Foster City. City guides exist for the linked San Mateo County places; everyone else in the county can use this page.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Mateo | city | 103,105 | $153,504 | $3,077 | 11 mi |
| Daly City | city | 101,964 | $123,547 | $2,551 | 20 mi |
| Redwood City | city | 82,447 | $157,814 | $2,968 | 11 mi |
| South San Francisco | city | 64,305 | $136,578 | $2,802 | 17 mi |
| San Bruno | city | 42,307 | $141,272 | $2,773 | 15 mi |
| Pacifica | city | 37,261 | $160,523 | $3,098 | 14 mi |
| Foster City | city | 32,792 | $199,143 | $3,501 | 12 mi |
| Menlo Park | city | 32,727 | $210,025 | $3,239 | 13 mi |
| Burlingame | city | 30,525 | $174,000 | $2,785 | 12 mi |
| San Carlos | city | 29,614 | $237,470 | $2,854 | 8 mi |
| East Palo Alto | city | 29,069 | $113,493 | $2,244 | 14 mi |
| Belmont | city | 27,337 | $205,297 | $2,875 | 8 mi |
| Millbrae | city | 22,689 | $163,476 | $3,272 | 13 mi |
| North Fair Oaks | CDP | 13,100 | $104,884 | $2,314 | 10 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
What a median San Mateo County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a San Mateo County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $13,238 gross per month ($158,855 / 12)
- Less median rent of $2,922, which is 22% of it
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,844 a month
- $2,770: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $2,922, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Local borrowing considerations for San Mateo County
What the San Mateo County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Strong incomes, long terms. 67% of San Mateo County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- 48% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Who lives in San Mateo County, in numbers
College graduates make up 54% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 3.8%, against 6.6% for California.
| Indicator | San Mateo County | All of California | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | 37.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 53.7% | 37.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.8% | 15.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.8% | 6.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.8% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 24.3% | 17.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.7% | 12.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 6.6% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | San Mateo County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 20.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 38.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.6% |
| 60+ min | 7.4% |
Checking a lender's license in California
The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation is the place to verify any lender's California license. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the California state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for San Mateo County applicants
Quick steps for San Mateo County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for California borrowers.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Nearby and statewide guides
Guides that cover parts of San Mateo County:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in San Mateo County earn?
The median is $158,855; 67% earn $100,000 or more and 10% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is San Mateo County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $2,922 against $2,036 statewide, and 48% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in San Mateo County?
By population: San Mateo, Daly City, Redwood City, South San Francisco, San Bruno. The county has 33 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in San Mateo County or elsewhere in California, the same rules apply.
Who do I complain to about a lender in San Mateo County?
Start with the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.