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Foster City, CA

Full City Profile · California · San Mateo County County

3.1 /5.0
B Good
32,964 Population 8,698/sq mi density
$193,633 Median Income $95,509 per capita
$1,774,500 Home Value $1,861,130 Zillow
$3,501 Median Rent 25.7% income on rent
59°F Avg Temperature 330 sunny days/yr
113 Violent Crime/100K 1,227 property/100K
B
Overall
3.1 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.8 / 5.0
$193,633 median income, 3.2% unemployment
F
Affordability
1.5 / 5.0
$1,774,500 home value, $3,501/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
113 violent crimes/100K
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
74.1% bachelor's degree or higher

Foster City, CA

At a Glance

Median Income
$193,633
158% above
$95,509 per capita
Home Value
$1,774,500
529% above
Zillow: $1,861,130
Median Rent
$3,501/mo
201% above
25.7% of income on rent
Violent Crime
113/100K
70% below
1,227/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
74.1%
120% above
95.9% high school+
Unemployment
3.2%
11% below
3.3% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
17.4%
46% below
5.7% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
59°F
330 sunny days/yr

How Foster City Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Foster City's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
258%
Home Value
629%
Rent
301%
Poverty
27%
Bachelor's
220%
Unemployment
89%
Crime
30%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Foster City a Good Place to Live?

B
3.1 / 5.0 — Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Foster City residents earn a median household income of $193,633 , which is 158% above the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $95,509. The unemployment rate stands at 3.2% (11% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 3.3% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 31,186 business establishments, including 2,143 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Foster City is $1,774,500 , 529% above the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $1,861,130. Median rent is $3,501/month, with 25.7% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 110.7 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1976.

Safety & Crime

Foster City reports 113 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 70% below the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 1,227/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.

Education

74.1% of adults in Foster City hold a bachelor's degree or higher (120% above the national average). 95.9% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.8/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Foster City has an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 51°F in January while summers reach 64°F in July. The area gets 330 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 19.6 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 48.

Data Overview

People

Population32,964
Median Age39.7 yrs
Density8,698/mi²
Male / Female48% / 52%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans2.8%

Economy

A+
Median Income$193,633
Per Capita$95,509
Unemployment3.2%
Poverty3.3%
County GDP$217,018M
Avg Weekly Wage$3,778

Housing

F
Home Value$1,774,500
Rent$3,501
Ownership51.2%
Zillow$1,861,130
Housing Units13,318
Rent Burden25.7%

Crime

F
Violent113/100K
Property1,227/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault61/100K
Burglary182/100K

Health

Obesity17.4%
Diabetes7.8%
Smoking5.7%
Premature Death4,006/100K

Climate

Avg Temp59°F
Sunny Days330/yr
Rain19.6 in/yr
AQI48 (Good)
Elevation7 ft

Education

A+
Bachelor's+74.1%
High School+95.9%
Graduate+37.7%
School Score5.8/10

Community

2024 VoteR 23% / D 74%
Commute31 min
Broadband98.0%
Internet Speed170 Mbps
EV Stations19
Libraries34

Did You Know?

Foster City was founded in 1971.
The median home in Foster City was built in 1976.
30.1% work from home.
The nearest airport is San Francisco International (8 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.493 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively High" by FEMA.
8.4% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 170 Mbps.
There are 2,143 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 43 fatal vehicle crashes.