Longtime lurker here, I work in automotive and With a population of 104K, San Mateo is a mid-size city. Crime rate is something to consider -San Mateo sits at 250.9 per 100K. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Does this match your experience? Night life is decent if you know the right spots. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The weather takes some getting used to. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood.
5 upvotes
7 Replies
Aurora Jones
as a local I can confirm
38 upvotes
Paisley Hernandez
facts
26 upvotes
Ezra Evans
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a pharmacist who relocated here from Atlanta about 15 years ago. The main reasons were cost of living and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Lots of new development happening
Cons that are real:
- Not a lot of cultural diversity
- Can feel isolated
Financially, we've found it excellent compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are growing, gas is challenging.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
25 upvotes
Dominic Lopez
Came here for retirement and stayed because it's been a really good experience overall. The school system is honestly hit or miss and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
23 upvotes
cool_addison53
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Dallas and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Old Town. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in tech. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 10 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
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