State rank#15 of 58
Smallest county742,340 residentsLos Angeles County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 06081
San Mateo County, California
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population742,340
Household income$158,855
Unemployment3.6%
Life expectancy84.1 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
San Mateo County has 742,340 residents and ranks #15 by population among California county equivalents. Median household income is $158,855. The annual-average unemployment rate is 3.6%. Its clearest relative strength is unemployment rate. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within California
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to San Mateo County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside San Mateo County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is unemployment rate.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $1,559,600 median home value and $2,922/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $158,855, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
San Mateo County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing unemployment rate, median household income, and poor or fair health. College attainment is 53.7% and life expectancy is 84.1 years.
Potential advantages
- Unemployment rate: 3.6%, rank #1 of 58 available California counties.
- Median household income: $158,855, rank #2 of 58 available California counties.
- Poor or fair health: 13.2%, rank #3 of 58 available California counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Median home value: $1,559,600, rank #58 of 58; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median gross rent: $2,922/mo, rank #56 of 56; investigate local variation before moving.
- Mental health access: 1 per 206 residents, rank #20 of 58; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within California
Rank and range use only counties in California with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$158,855
$158,855; above the state county median of $83,473.
State rank #2 of 58 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$1,559,600
$1,559,600; above the state county median of $481,100.
State rank #58 of 58 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$2,922/mo
$2,922/mo; above the state county median of $1,624/mo.
State rank #56 of 56 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
3.6%
3.6%; below the state county median of 5.5%.
State rank #1 of 58 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
53.7%
53.7%; above the state county median of 25.7%.
State rank #4 of 58 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
84.1 years
84.1 years; above the state county median of 78.2 years.
State rank #3 of 57 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
13.2%
13.2%; below the state county median of 18.4%.
State rank #3 of 58 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
4.6%
4.6%; below the state county median of 7.3%.
State rank #5 of 58 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 918 residents
1 per 918 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 1,459 residents.
State rank #7 of 57 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 206 residents
1 per 206 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 247 residents.
State rank #20 of 58 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
San Mateo County FAQ
Is San Mateo County a good place to live?
San Mateo County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing unemployment rate, median household income, and poor or fair health. College attainment is 53.7% and life expectancy is 84.1 years.
What should I know before moving to San Mateo County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $1,559,600 median home value and $2,922/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $158,855, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of San Mateo County?
San Mateo County has 742,340 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for San Mateo County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 06081; the parent state FIPS is 06.
What is the median household income in San Mateo County?
The ACS median household income is $158,855.
How much does housing cost in San Mateo County?
Housing benchmarks are $1,559,600 median home value and $2,922/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $158,855, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in San Mateo County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 3.6%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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