Alright, I grew up here but left for a while. Household incomes average around $152,669 in San Mateo. The median home value here is around $1,563,200, which is pretty steep. Poverty rate is 4.6%, which is pretty low. It's a a mid-size city city with about 104K people. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. Worth the trade-offs? Thanks in advance! The suburbs are where most families end up. The suburbs are where most families end up. The food scene here is surprisingly good. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The city has invested a lot in new development. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The city has invested a lot in new development. The weather takes some getting used to. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The suburbs are where most families end up. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The suburbs are where most families end up. The weather takes some getting used to. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years.
16 upvotes
10 Replies
Leah Bennett
Came here for a job opportunity and stayed because the quality of life is solid. The dating scene is honestly decent and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
36 upvotes
Frank M.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 1-bedroom. it's not perfect but it works for me. Compared to Boston it's hit or miss.
29 upvotes
tulsa_lucas
exactly what I was thinking
26 upvotes
Evelyn
Can confirm, been here 12 years.
24 upvotes
Ruby Robinson
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a teacher who relocated here from Phoenix about 4 years ago. The main reasons were family and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Diverse dining options
Cons that are real:
- Limited entertainment options
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. Groceries are competitive, gas is underrated.
Socially, it's improved dramatically in recent years. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
23 upvotes
Julian K.
interesting, hadn't considered that
16 upvotes
Valentina G.
Moved here from Miami about 4 years ago. I'm still on the fence after all this time. Still getting used to housing market but Definitely worth checking out..
15 upvotes
Audrey J.
Saving this thread
12 upvotes
everly_local
Public transit is better than expected here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it was the best decision I ever made.
7 upvotes
Emily A.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are tough, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
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