San Mateo County, California Income Statistics
San Mateo County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
A
San Mateo County Above averageAmong the top 3 wealthiest counties in California
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | San Mateo County | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $159,405 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $101,772 | $67,742 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.2% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 30.9% | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 40.0% | 20.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in San Mateo County is about 61% higher than in California. Income has been growing faster in San Mateo County (6.2%/yr) than in California (5.6%/yr).
About 31% of adults in San Mateo County 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 County, California grew by 87.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $159,405 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in San Mateo County
| Metric | San Mateo County | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.520 | 0.572 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $108,718 | $75,172 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $98,970 | $66,071 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 9.0% | 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 County, it is 0.520, 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 10% more than women's income in San Mateo County, California. Over a 35-year career, a 10% wage gap accumulates to roughly $341,180 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 County, California has narrowed from about 17% to 9% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 18% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,531 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | San Mateo County | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 24.3% | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 19,724 people are unemployed in San Mateo County, California.
The average commute time in San Mateo County is 23 minutes, about the same as in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in San Mateo County, California has fallen from 7.3% to 4.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.1% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.7% in 2019.
San Mateo County, CA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
San Mateo County, CA is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 733,246 residents against a local median of 1,163,035. The measure that sets San Mateo County, CA apart most is median household income: $159,405, 23% above the local median of $129,593. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 4.8% against a local median of 6.1%, 22% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so San Mateo County, CA is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread $54,862 on median household income, so San Mateo County, CA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. San Mateo County, CA has the 2nd highest median household income of the 6 areas compared here.
| 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 County, CA | 733,246 | $159,405 #2/6 | 6.2%/yr #2/6 | 4.8% #1/6 | 0.520 #2/6 |
| San Francisco County, CA | 829,818 | $140,554 | 6.0%/yr | 6.1% | 0.505 |
| Alameda County, CA | 1,648,382 | $129,593 | 6.2%/yr | 5.4% | 0.542 |
| Santa Cruz County, CA | 264,809 | $111,078 | 6.0%/yr | 6.1% | 0.562 |
| Contra Costa County, CA | 1,163,035 | $127,405 | 5.4%/yr | 6.5% | 0.546 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | 1,901,257 | $165,940 | 6.3%/yr | 4.9% | 0.536 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, San Mateo County, California has an overall wealth index grade of A, making it notably better than California, and notably better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in San Mateo County, California.
How Rich Is San Mateo County, California?
San Mateo County 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 residents are much better off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $159,405, about 61% higher than the California average of $99,161.
How fast is household income rising in San Mateo County, California?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in San Mateo County, California rose 88%, from $84,942 to $159,405. Over the same years, income here outpaced California as a whole: +88% against +64%.
What was the median household income in San Mateo County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in San Mateo County, California was $156,476, up 4% from $149,913 in 2022. The California median that year was $96,718.
What was the median household income in San Mateo County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in San Mateo County, California was $128,374. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $159,405.
Is San Mateo County, California a high-income area?
Yes. 31% of adults in San Mateo County, California earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 3), against 18% (about 1 in 6) in California. 40% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 20% in California.
Is it hard to find a job in San Mateo County, California?
Unemployment in San Mateo County, California is only 4.8%, 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 County, California?
The Gini coefficient in San Mateo County is 0.520. 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 County, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in San Mateo County, California has narrowed from about 17% to 9% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 18% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,531 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →