How long is the commute from San Mateo, CA?
Workers who live in San Mateo, CA take an average of 26.1 minutes to get to work (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
57.7% of workers drive alone to work.
4.9% take public transportation.
2.7% of workers walk to work.
24.8% work from home.
6.8% of households have no vehicle.
Figures last updated on .
- Average commute
- 26.1 minutes (±0.7)
- Public transportation
- 4.9%
- Work from home
- 24.8%
- Households without a car
- 6.8%
How people in San Mateo get to work
| Means of transportation | San Mateo | San Mateo County | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drove alone | 57.7% (±1.8 points) | 56.7% | 65.7% | 68.8% |
| Carpooled | 7.0% (±1.0 points) | 8.7% | 9.5% | 8.5% |
| Public transportation | 4.9% (±1.0 points) | 5.1% | 2.9% | 3.2% |
| Walked | 2.7% (±0.7 points) | 2.3% | 2.4% | 2.4% |
| Other means (bicycle, taxi, motorcycle) | 3.0% (±0.8 points) | 3.0% | 2.4% | 2.0% |
| Worked from home | 24.8% (±1.7 points) | 24.3% | 17.2% | 15.1% |
In San Mateo, the average commute is not measurably different from San Mateo County (26.4 minutes).
It is also lower than in California (28.7 minutes).
It is not measurably different from the national figure (26.4 minutes).
In San Mateo, the share commuting by public transportation is not measurably different from San Mateo County (5.1%).
It is also higher than in California (2.9%).
It is higher than the national figure (3.2%).
In San Mateo County, San Mateo ranks 17 of 31 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest average commute.
Statewide, it ranks 646 of 1,076.
Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.
Cars per household in San Mateo
| Vehicles available | San Mateo | San Mateo County | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No vehicle | 6.8% (±0.9 points) | 5.8% | 7.1% | 8.4% |
| 1 vehicle | 38.0% (±2.0 points) | 31.2% | 30.7% | 33.1% |
| 2 vehicles | 37.5% (±1.6 points) | 38.2% | 36.3% | 36.6% |
| 3 or more vehicles | 17.7% (±1.5 points) | 24.8% | 25.8% | 21.9% |
In San Mateo, the share of households without a vehicle is higher than in San Mateo County (5.8%).
It is not measurably different from California (7.1%).
It is lower than the national figure (8.4%).
Working from home and internet access in San Mateo
| San Mateo | San Mateo County | California | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workers working from home | 24.8% (±1.7 points) | 24.3% (±0.6 points) | 17.2% (±0.1 points) | 15.1% |
| Households with a computer | 98.1% (±0.5 points) | 97.7% (±0.3 points) | 96.9% (±0.1 points) | 95.5% |
| Households with broadband internet | 95.6% (±0.9 points) | 95.7% (±0.4 points) | 93.5% (±0.1 points) | 91.0% |
In San Mateo, the share of households with a broadband subscription is not measurably different from San Mateo County (95.7%).
It is also higher than in California (93.5%).
It is higher than the national figure (91.0%).
Average commute in places near San Mateo
| Place | Distance | Average commute | Compared with this place |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Mateo | — | 26.1 minutes (±0.7) | — |
| Hillsborough | 2.6 mi | 27.1 minutes (±2.4) | Not measurably different |
| Baywood Park | 2.7 mi | 26.0 minutes (±4.6) | Not measurably different |
| Foster City | 3.3 mi | 29.4 minutes (±1.4) | Higher |
| Belmont | 3.3 mi | 28.5 minutes (±2.0) | Higher |
| Highlands | 3.4 mi | 24.0 minutes (±2.8) | Not measurably different |
| Burlingame | 3.5 mi | 30.7 minutes (±3.1) | Higher |
| San Carlos | 4.8 mi | 24.6 minutes (±1.3) | Lower |
| Millbrae | 5.7 mi | 28.6 minutes (±1.4) | Higher |
Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: San Carlos, CA (24.6 minutes).
Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Foster City, CA (29.4 minutes), Belmont, CA (28.5 minutes), Burlingame, CA (30.7 minutes).
Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.
Average commute across San Mateo County, place by place
| Rank | Place | Average commute |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Millbrae | 28.6 minutes (±1.4) |
| 12 | Belmont | 28.5 minutes (±2.0) |
| 13 | Colma | 28.2 minutes (±3.1) |
| 14 | Pacifica | 27.2 minutes (±1.1) |
| 15 | Hillsborough | 27.1 minutes (±2.4) |
| 16 | Emerald Lake Hills | 27.0 minutes (±2.6) |
| 17 | San Mateo | 26.1 minutes (±0.7) |
| 18 | Baywood Park | 26.0 minutes (±4.6) |
| 19 | South San Francisco | 25.6 minutes (±0.9) |
| 20 | San Carlos | 24.6 minutes (±1.3) |
| 21 (tie) | Redwood City | 24.3 minutes (±0.8) |
| 21 (tie) | Broadmoor | 24.3 minutes (±2.2) |
| 23 | Highlands | 24.0 minutes (±2.8) |
Showing 13 of 31 places in San Mateo County, ranked from highest to lowest.
Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).
Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.
What you can do on Seayora in San Mateo
One account for renting, owning, managing and fixing homes, with these figures beside you.
Looking for a place to rent?
Browse homes for rent near San Mateo, save the ones you like and apply online.
Browse rentals · Create a renter account
Own or manage a rental?
List it, sign the lease and collect rent online, with the figures for San Mateo beside you.
Create a landlord account · See what landlords get
Do repairs, renovations or maintenance?
Get found by owners and renters near San Mateo, and send estimates and invoices from your phone.
Questions about San Mateo
How long is the average commute in San Mateo?
Workers who live in San Mateo, CA take an average of 26.1 minutes each way (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Can you live in San Mateo without a car?
6.8% of households in San Mateo have no vehicle, and 4.9% of workers commute by public transportation.
How many people work from home in San Mateo?
24.8% (±1.7 points) of workers who live in San Mateo worked from home, and 95.6% of households have a broadband subscription.
Sources
- Selected Economic Characteristics (DP03), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — San Mateo city, California
- Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — San Mateo city, California
- Selected Social Characteristics (DP02), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — San Mateo city, California
To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for San Mateo city, California (place:68252, in state:06).
Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).
The API needs a free key.
DP03_0018E, DP03_0018M, DP03_0025E, DP03_0025M, DP03_0019PE, DP03_0019PM, DP03_0020PE, DP03_0020PM, DP03_0021PE, DP03_0021PM, DP03_0022PE, DP03_0022PM, DP03_0023PE, DP03_0023PM, DP03_0024PE, DP03_0024PM, DP04_0058PE, DP04_0058PM, DP04_0059PE, DP04_0059PM, DP04_0060PE, DP04_0060PM, DP04_0061PE, DP04_0061PM, DP02_0153PE, DP02_0153PM, DP02_0154PE, DP02_0154PM
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.
Figures last updated on .
Related
- Housing in San Mateo at a glance
- Median rent in San Mateo
- Rent by bedrooms in San Mateo
- Rent burden in San Mateo
- Renters and owners in San Mateo
- Income and affordability in San Mateo
- Home values in San Mateo
- Homeowner costs in San Mateo
- Property taxes in San Mateo
- Types of homes in San Mateo
- Bedrooms in San Mateo
- Age of homes in San Mateo
- Vacancy rate in San Mateo
- Heating fuel in San Mateo
- Crime reported to police in San Mateo
- Population growth in San Mateo
- How long people stay in San Mateo
- Crowding and facilities in San Mateo
- California landlord and tenant rules
- Housing across San Mateo County
- California places ranked by commute time
- Housing data for every place in California