How Healthy Is San Mateo County, California? | US News Healthiest Communities

San Mateo County, CA

#36 in Overall Rankings,
Peer Group: #30 in Urban, High-Performing
Population
766,573
Population
Land Area
449

SQ MI

Land Area
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Overview of San Mateo County, CA

Founded in 1856, San Mateo County is located on the San Francisco Peninsula in California’s Bay Area, between the cities of San Francisco and Palo Alto. Tied to the larger Silicon Valley region, the county and its seat, Redwood City, have served as the home for tech companies like Oracle and Electronic Arts.

The county is home to dozens of parks, trails and beaches, as well as the endangered San Francisco garter snake and the San Bruno elfin butterfly. Split by the Santa Cruz Mountains, the eastern portion of the county is more densely populated, while its western half is more rural and home to protected and undeveloped land.

#36/ 500
Overall Ranking

Ranked #43 in 2021

CategoryScore
81
52
61
47
Read our methodology to see how the scores and rankings were calculated.
#36/ 500
Overall Ranking

Ranked #43 in 2021

81
52
61
47
Read our methodology to see how the scores and rankings were calculated.
CategoryScore

Population Health

The population health category assesses access to care, healthy behaviors, health conditions, mental health and resulting health outcomes within communities.

Overall Population Health Score
5.8%

Population With No Health Insurance

National Median: 11.0%

9.2%

Smoking Rate

National Median: 20.0%

85.0
years

Life Expectancy

National Median: 77.5 years

Ranking Details

Score

Metric

County

U.S.

Peer
Group

State

Hospital Bed Availability /1k1.51.92.02.4
Population With No Health Insurance5.8%11.0%8.4%8.9%
Primary Care Doctor Availability /1k1.310.971.241.36
Score

Metric

County

U.S.

Peer
Group

State

Adult Flu Vaccination Rate0.40.40.40.5
Adults With No Leisure-Time Physical Activity17.5%30.0%26.2%24.3%
Adults With Recent Preventive Care Visit70.7%74.6%75.5%70.1%
Smoking Rate9.2%20.0%17.2%11.5%
Score

Metric

County

U.S.

Peer
Group

State

Cancer Incidence Rate /100k412.3457.7459.0402.4
Heart Disease Prevalence3.9%6.1%5.4%4.9%
Preventable Hospital Admissions Among Medicare Beneficiaries /100k1,7543,9163,5153,069
Score

Metric

County

U.S.

Peer
Group

State

Adults in Poor or Fair General Health13.1%19.5%16.3%17.6%
Babies Born With Low Birth Weight6.7%7.9%7.4%6.9%
Life Expectancy85.077.579.381.7
Teen Birth Rate /1k6.120.312.810.8
Score

Metric

County

U.S.

Peer
Group

State

Adults With Frequent Mental Distress10.3%15.8%14.2%12.4%
Deaths of Despair /100k25.047.542.136.0
Medicare Beneficiaries With Depression11.2%18.0%18.7%16.2%

Equity

The equity category assesses income, education, health and social equality to determine how well all members of a community are afforded the opportunity to live a productive, healthy life.

Overall Equity Score
0.29

Racial Disparity in Educational Attainment

National Median: 0.16

0.054

Premature Death Disparity Index Score

National Median: 0.041

0.25

Segregation Index Score

National Median: 0.39

Ranking Details

Score

Metric

County

U.S.

Peer
Group

State

Neighborhood Disparity in Educational Attainment 20.7510.4715.4623.21
Racial Disparity in Educational Attainment 0.290.160.220.29
Score

Metric

County

U.S.

Peer
Group

State

Air Toxics Exposure Disparity Index Score 8.811.873.2112.39
Low Birth Weight Disparity Index Score 0.0720.0620.0550.061
Premature Death Disparity Index Score 0.0540.0410.0420.065
Score

Metric

County

U.S.

Peer
Group

State

Gini Index Score 0.490.440.440.49
Neighborhood Disparity in Poverty 4.326.977.3110.30
Racial Disparity in Poverty 0.110.130.140.10
Score

Metric

County

U.S.

Peer
Group

State

Disability Employment Gap 0.630.550.590.56
Segregation Index Score 0.250.390.290.32

Education

The education category examines the strength of a community's education system and the education level of its residents through measures of participation, infrastructure and achievement.

Overall Education Score
85.9%

High School Graduation Rate

National Median: 89.4%

58.9%

Population With Advanced Degree

National Median: 30.6%

$21,013

Per-Pupil Expenditures

National Median: $13,452

Ranking Details

Score

Metric

County

U.S.

Peer
Group

State

Children Meeting Standards in Grade 4 R/LA61.4%47.1%52.5%49.1%
High School Graduation Rate85.9%89.4%89.1%88.1%
Population With Advanced Degree58.9%30.6%41.1%42.7%
Score

Metric

County

U.S.

Peer
Group

State

Head Start Facilities /100k3.19.34.82.9
Per-Pupil Expenditures$21,013$13,452$14,310$16,892
Youth Within 5 Miles of a Public School99.9%80.4%95.4%99.3%
Score

Metric

County

U.S.

Peer
Group

State

Continuing Education Tax Credits as Share of Total Tax Filings6.5%8.0%9.2%9.2%
Idle Youth (Not Working or Enrolled)1.2%2.4%2.0%1.9%
Preschool Enrollment64.8%42.6%45.8%47.9%

Economy

The economy category captures measures of employment, opportunity and wealth. It serves as a backbone to the Healthiest Communities peer group rankings, which account for the complex challenges and limited resources within many communities.

Overall Economy Score
7.0%

Unemployment Rate

National Median: 6.5%

$109,135

Median Household Income

National Median: $58,759

6.2%

Poverty Rate

National Median: 13.6%

Ranking Details

Score

Metric

County

U.S.

Peer
Group

State

Average Weekly Wage$3,020$831$967$1,528
Labor Force Participation68.7%58.8%64.7%63.3%
Unemployment Rate7.0%6.5%6.4%10.2%
Score

Metric

County

U.S.

Peer
Group

State

Median Household Income$109,135$58,759$69,773$73,947
Medical Debt in Collections4%17%13%9%
Poverty Rate6.2%13.6%10.0%12.6%
Score

Metric

County

U.S.

Peer
Group

State

Business Growth Rate9.4%7.7%8.6%10.5%
Job Diversity Index Score 0.810.740.880.86
Jobs Within a 45-Minute Commute118,4123,89023,119146,550

Housing

The housing category tracks the availability, affordability and quality of homes within a community.

Overall Housing Score
36.3%

Households Spending at Least 30% of Income on Housing

National Median: 22.8%

45.9

Work Hours Needed to Pay for Affordable Housing

National Median: 40.6

5.5%

Vacant Houses

National Median: 16.3%

Ranking Details

Score

Metric

County

U.S.

Peer
Group

State

Eviction Rate0.4%1.1%1.6%0.8%
Households Spending at Least 30% of Income on Housing36.3%22.8%25.6%40.1%
Work Hours Needed to Pay for Affordable Housing45.940.644.849.9
Score

Metric

County

U.S.

Peer
Group

State

Affordable Housing Shortfall -73.9-61.4-64.5-73.5
Overcrowded Households7.6%1.8%1.8%8.2%
Score

Metric

County

U.S.

Peer
Group

State

Households With Incomplete Plumbing Facilities0.3%0.3%0.3%0.4%
Vacant Houses5.5%16.3%8.4%7.8%

Food & Nutrition

The food and nutrition category tracks the availability and use of healthy foods in a community, as well as the prevalence of chronic diseases that have been linked to poor nutrition.

Overall Food & Nutrition Score
1.2
/100k

Local Food Outlets

National Median: 0.0/100k

8.7%

Diabetes Prevalence

National Median: 10.4%

20.6%

Obesity Prevalence

National Median: 36.2%

Ranking Details

Score

Metric

County

U.S.

Peer
Group

State

Food Environment Index Score 18.3214.3313.6212.05
Local Food Outlets /100k1.20.01.30.2
Population Without Access to Large Grocery Store10.5%21.7%24.6%13.3%
Score

Metric

County

U.S.

Peer
Group

State

At-Home Food Expenditures on Fruit/Veg 98.4163.7472.6177.77
At-Home Food Expenditures on Soda/SSB 5.2939.1329.1325.06
Diabetes Prevalence8.7%10.4%9.3%10.5%
Obesity Prevalence20.6%36.2%33.2%27.7%

Environment

The environment category assesses the health of a community's natural surroundings by including measures of air and water quality, access to parks and natural amenities, and environmental risks.

Overall Environment Score
0.00
/1k

Drinking Water Violation Rate

National Median: 0.03/1k

90.0%

Population Within 0.5 Mile of a Park

National Median: 18.0%

10.3
days

Extreme Heat Days per Year

National Median: 10.3 days

Ranking Details

Score

Metric

County

U.S.

Peer
Group

State

Airborne Cancer Risk 23.3825.9227.1635.53
Air Quality Hazard 0.350.340.360.55
Drinking Water Violation Rate /1k 0.000.030.010.01
Toxic Release Index Score 0.000.040.080.20
Score

Metric

County

U.S.

Peer
Group

State

Area With Tree Canopy6.5%20.6%19.1%3.9%
Natural Amenities Index Score 8.190.220.247.90
Population Within 0.5 Mile of a Park90.0%18.0%32.0%65.0%
Score

Metric

County

U.S.

Peer
Group

State

Extreme Heat Days per Year days10.310.310.712.0
FEMA National Risk Index Score 22.89.19.853.4
Homes in Flood Hazard Zone5.7%3.8%3.4%3.7%

Public Safety

The public safety category aims to reward communities with low crime rates, few deaths tied to accidents and motor vehicle crashes, and a robust health and public safety infrastructure.

Overall Public Safety Score
209.1
/100k

Violent Crime Rate

National Median: 204.5/100k

$1,216

Per Capita Spending on Health and Emergency Services

National Median: $358

0.66%

Public Safety Professionals in Population

National Median: 0.73%

Ranking Details

Score

Metric

County

U.S.

Peer
Group

State

Property Crime Rate /100k1,903.21,673.71,914.82,497.4
Violent Crime Rate /100k209.1204.5214.5418.2
Score

Metric

County

U.S.

Peer
Group

State

Accidental Death Rate /100k24.458.549.235.8
Vehicle Crash Fatality Rate /100k4.517.511.130.5
Score

Metric

County

U.S.

Peer
Group

State

Per Capita Spending on Health and Emergency Services$1,216$358$447$1,158
Population Living Close to Emergency Facilities75.9%36.7%35.9%56.2%
Public Safety Professionals in Population0.66%0.73%0.75%0.77%

Community Vitality

The community vitality category assesses the stability and social cohesion of a community through measures of population growth, voter participation and more.

Overall Community Vitality Score
59.9%

Homeownership Rate

National Median: 73.2%

-5.8%

Net Migration Rate

National Median: -0.2%

74.6%

Voter Participation Rate

National Median: 66.0%

Ranking Details

Score

Metric

County

U.S.

Peer
Group

State

Homeownership Rate59.9%73.2%71.2%54.9%
Municipal Funding Imbalance 282.8421.5402.9243.2
Net Migration Rate -5.8%-0.2%1.7%-1.6%
Score

Metric

County

U.S.

Peer
Group

State

Census Self-Response Rate73.4%65.8%68.8%58.0%
Neighborhood Diversity Index Score 0.510.530.520.51
Nonprofits /100k471.6468.6481.0433.7
Voter Participation Rate74.6%66.0%71.9%68.7%

Infrastructure

The infrastructure category gauges how well residents can make use of their community, and includes measures of walkability, commute time and internet access.

Overall Infrastructure Score
100.0%

Population With Access to Broadband

National Median: 96.7%

10.2

Walkability Index Score

National Median: 6.1

10.9%

Workers Commuting 60 Minutes or More

National Median: 6.8%

Ranking Details

Score

Metric

County

U.S.

Peer
Group

State

Population With Access to Broadband100.0%96.7%98.9%98.9%
Population Within 0.5 Mile of Walkable Destinations 91.3%34.0%49.2%81.1%
Walkability Index Score 10.26.17.412.1
Score

Metric

County

U.S.

Peer
Group

State

Distance to Public Transit 693.4573.4563.3481.3
Households With No Vehicle5.2%5.5%4.9%7.0%
Workers Commuting 60 Minutes or More10.9%6.8%6.2%12.7%

Learn More

Here's a look at the data behind our rankings.

How the Communities Were RankedHow the Communities Were RankedHealthiest Communities FAQHealthiest Communities FAQ

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Healthiest Communities

Healthiest Communities is an interactive destination developed by U.S. News & World Report for consumers and policymakers. Backed by in-depth research and accompanied by news and analysis, the site features comprehensive rankings drawn from an examination of nearly 3,000 counties and county-equivalents on 89 metrics across 10 categories, informing residents, health care leaders and officials about local policies and practices that drive better health outcomes for all. Data was gathered and analyzed by the University of Missouri Extension Center for Applied Research and Engagement Systems (CARES).