San Mateo, California Income Statistics
San Mateo Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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A+
San Mateo Top grade
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | San Mateo | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $153,407 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $111,633 | $67,742 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.0% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 34.9% | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 38.9% | 20.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in San Mateo is about 55% higher than in California. Income has been growing faster in San Mateo (6.0%/yr) than in California (5.6%/yr).
About 35% of adults in San Mateo earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the California average of 18%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in San Mateo, California grew by 83.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $153,407 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in San Mateo
| Metric | San Mateo | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.509 | 0.572 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $118,115 | $75,172 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $109,184 | $66,071 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 7.6% | 12.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In San Mateo, it is 0.509, lower than California's 0.572, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 8% more than women's income in San Mateo, California. Over a 35-year career, a 8% wage gap accumulates to roughly $312,585 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in San Mateo, California has narrowed from about 16% to 8% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 5% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,548 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | San Mateo | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 24.7% | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 2,621 people are unemployed in San Mateo, California.
The average commute time in San Mateo is 23 minutes, about the same as in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in San Mateo, California has fallen from 6.6% to 4.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.8% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.8% in 2019.
San Mateo, CA Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How San Mateo, CA compares with the 2 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Mateo, CA | 101,951 | $153,407 #3/3 | 6.0%/yr #3/3 | 4.5% #1/3 | 0.509 #3/3 |
| Belmont, CA | 24,586 | $202,176 | 6.6%/yr | 6.9% | 0.493 |
| Burlingame, CA | 29,545 | $169,776 | 6.4%/yr | 5.7% | 0.493 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, San Mateo, California has an overall wealth index grade of A+, making it far better than California, and far better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in San Mateo, California.
How Rich Is San Mateo, California?
San Mateo has a wealth index grade of A+. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an A+ grade means it is one of the most prosperous areas in the country. The median household income is $153,407, about 55% higher than the California average of $99,161.
How fast is household income rising in San Mateo, California?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in San Mateo, California rose 84%, from $83,539 to $153,407. Over the same years, income here outpaced California as a whole: +84% against +64%.
What was the median household income in San Mateo in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in San Mateo, California was $152,047, up 2% from $149,304 in 2022. The California median that year was $96,718.
What was the median household income in San Mateo in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in San Mateo, California was $126,109. By 2024 it had risen 22% to $153,407.
Is San Mateo, California a high-income area?
Yes. 35% of adults in San Mateo, California earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 3), against 18% (about 1 in 6) in California. 39% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 20% in California.
How strong is the job market in San Mateo, California?
Unemployment in San Mateo, California is only 4.5%, well below the California rate of 6.6%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in San Mateo, California?
The Gini coefficient in San Mateo is 0.509. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in San Mateo, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in San Mateo, California has narrowed from about 16% to 8% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 5% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,548 since 2009.
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