California · City Comparison · Q1 2026
San Mateo vs Burlingame
Side-by-side comparison of San Mateo and Burlingame on the questions California buyers actually ask.
San Mateo
$1850K
median sale price
Burlingame
$2400K
median sale price
The short version: Burlingame trades at roughly a 30% premium to San Mateo for a smaller-village feel and top-rated elementary schools. San Mateo offers more inventory and more affordable entry points. Both share the same high school district, similar climate, and similar Caltrain access to SF.
Side-by-side comparison
| San Mateo | Burlingame | |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $1,850,000 | $2,400,000 |
| Population | 105,700 | 31,000 |
| County | San Mateo County | San Mateo County |
| Schools | San Mateo-Foster City School District (K–8) + San Mateo Union High. Strong, varies by neighborhood. | Burlingame School District (K–8) + San Mateo Union High. Top-tier elementary; shared high school with San Mateo. |
| Commute | Caltrain (Hillsdale + Hayward Park + San Mateo stations) to SF ~35 min; ~30 min to Palo Alto. | Caltrain (Burlingame + Broadway stations) to SF ~30 min; ~25 min to Palo Alto. |
| Lifestyle | Larger city with multiple downtowns (Hillsdale Mall, downtown San Mateo, Hayward Park). More dining and diverse housing stock. | Smaller, more historic. Burlingame Ave is a walkable downtown. More established old-money character. |
| Weather | Peninsula climate — mid-60s to low-70s most of year. Marine layer in early summer. | Identical to San Mateo. |
| Demographics | Population ~105,700. Median household income ~$135,000. ~55% owner-occupied. | Population ~31,000. Median household income ~$175,000. ~55% owner-occupied. |
San Mateo sits 23% below Burlingame on median price. That gap is driven primarily by school districts, lot size, and historical inventory mix — see the writeups below.
Schools
San Mateo: San Mateo-Foster City School District (K–8) + San Mateo Union High. Strong, varies by neighborhood.
Burlingame: Burlingame School District (K–8) + San Mateo Union High. Top-tier elementary; shared high school with San Mateo.
Commute
San Mateo: Caltrain (Hillsdale + Hayward Park + San Mateo stations) to SF ~35 min; ~30 min to Palo Alto.
Burlingame: Caltrain (Burlingame + Broadway stations) to SF ~30 min; ~25 min to Palo Alto.
Lifestyle
San Mateo: Larger city with multiple downtowns (Hillsdale Mall, downtown San Mateo, Hayward Park). More dining and diverse housing stock.
Burlingame: Smaller, more historic. Burlingame Ave is a walkable downtown. More established old-money character.
Weather + climate
San Mateo: Peninsula climate — mid-60s to low-70s most of year. Marine layer in early summer.
Burlingame: Identical to San Mateo.
Demographics
San Mateo: Population ~105,700. Median household income ~$135,000. ~55% owner-occupied.
Burlingame: Population ~31,000. Median household income ~$175,000. ~55% owner-occupied.
Who San Mateo is best for
- Buyers wanting larger inventory and more price variety
- Buyers comfortable with multiple neighborhood characters within one city
- Buyers prioritizing transit and commute optionality
Who Burlingame is best for
- Buyers wanting a walkable historic downtown
- Families prioritizing Burlingame School District elementary
- Buyers willing to pay ~30% premium for smaller-village feel
The verdict
Burlingame trades at roughly a 30% premium to San Mateo for a smaller-village feel and top-rated elementary schools. San Mateo offers more inventory and more affordable entry points. Both share the same high school district, similar climate, and similar Caltrain access to SF.