Poverty and living standards in San Mateo, California: official figures
8.2% of residents of San Mateo (8,429 people) had incomes below the federal poverty line in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, 201st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 12.5%; California: 12.0%).
How many children live in poverty in San Mateo?
9.0% of children under 18 in San Mateo lived below the poverty line in 2020-2024 (1,772 children), 194th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 16.1%; California: 15.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate for older people in San Mateo?
By age, the poverty rate in San Mateo was 9.5% for children under 6 and 11.9% for residents aged 60 and over in 2020-2024 (US: 17.2% and 11.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in San Mateo live in deep poverty?
4,187 people in San Mateo, 4.1% of residents, had incomes below half the poverty line in 2020-2024, 217th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in San Mateo are cost-burdened?
46.5% of renting households in San Mateo spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2020-2024 (8,951 households), 163rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 51.1%; California: 55.3%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in San Mateo spend half their income on rent?
25.2% of renting households in San Mateo spent half or more of their income on rent and utilities, 352nd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 25.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in San Mateo are food insecure?
An estimated 12.6% of adults in San Mateo experienced food insecurity in the past year, joint 139th lowest of 592 US cities of 50,000 or more with an estimate, and 10.5% housing insecurity (CDC PLACES model-based estimate for 2023, age-adjusted).
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copyHow San Mateo compares with other cities in the United States
Residents below the poverty line (2020-2024)
San Mateo ranks 623 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 620 | Coon Rapids | 8.2% |
| 621 | Woodland | 8.2% |
| 622 | Vacaville | 8.2% |
| 623 | San Mateo | 8.2% |
| 624 | Palatine | 8.2% |
| 625 | Edmond | 8.1% |
| 626 | Renton | 8.1% |
Children under 18 below the poverty line (2020-2024)
San Mateo ranks 630 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children under 18 below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 627 | San Francisco | 9.0% |
| 628 | Walnut Creek | 9.0% |
| 629 | Cheyenne | 9.0% |
| 630 | San Mateo | 9.0% |
| 631 | Allen | 8.9% |
| 632 | Farmington Hills | 8.8% |
| 633 | Chino | 8.8% |
Residents with incomes below half the poverty line (2020-2024)
San Mateo ranks 607 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents with incomes below half the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 604 | Gaithersburg | 4.1% |
| 605 | Bonita Springs | 4.1% |
| 606 | Carson | 4.1% |
| 607 | San Mateo | 4.1% |
| 608 | Norwalk | 4.1% |
| 609 | Methuen | 4.1% |
| 610 | Buckeye | 4.1% |
Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent (2020-2024)
San Mateo ranks 661 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 658 | Lancaster | 46.6% |
| 659 | Washington | 46.6% |
| 660 | Columbus | 46.6% |
| 661 | San Mateo | 46.5% |
| 662 | St. Clair Shores | 46.4% |
| 663 | Chattanooga | 46.4% |
| 664 | Burleson | 46.4% |
Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) (2023)
San Mateo ranks 453 of 592, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 450 | Greenwood | 12.7% |
| 451 | St. Clair Shores | 12.7% |
| 452 | Novato | 12.7% |
| 453 | San Mateo | 12.6% |
| 454 | Bloomington | 12.6% |
| 455 | Chandler | 12.5% |
| 456 | Orem | 12.4% |
More on San Mateo: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: PLACES: Place Data (GIS Friendly Format), 2025 release: model-based age-adjusted prevalence among adults, for every place (data.cdc.gov API, columns used), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b2174bcc660f…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B17020: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Age (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 e79a292f34605560506b7f4b5c8ea242c9d6e203c8e95ba675565ddb7758571e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 41bab025d213…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C17002: Ratio of Income to Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 dc3dc675113683ec3ff2a0e29a840f43e03268151d7f14b922658d7306da5187), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 31aa364bfddf…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25070: Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 862ccc17d913305d11e6f802ce4518d76b30585ea0b05b251cd8cf21f8661386), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4f8d499d9e95…)
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