San Mateo County, California home prices
Typical home $1,579,058 · +4.4% in a year · property tax 0.61%
The typical home in San Mateo County is worth $1,579,058, 107% more than the California typical home ($761,538). Values changed +4.4% in the past year and +7.6% over five years. Homeowners here pay a median 0.61% of their home's value in property tax each year ($9,638 on the typical home), versus 0.72% statewide.
Mortgage on the typical San Mateo County home
| Down payment | Cash down | Loan | Principal + interest | PMI / MIP | Tax + insurance | Total / month | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20% down | $315,812 | $1,263,247 | $8,498 | $0 | $1,593 | $10,091 | $432,500 |
| 10% down | $157,906 | $1,421,152 | $9,560 | $592 | $1,593 | $11,745 | $503,400 |
| 5% down | $78,953 | $1,500,105 | $10,091 | $625 | $1,593 | $12,309 | $527,500 |
| 3.5% down (FHA) | $55,267 | $1,550,458 | $10,430 | $698 | $1,593 | $12,721 | $545,200 |
Assumes a 30-year fixed loan at 7.11%, property tax of 0.61% of the home value a year, homeowners insurance of 0.6% a year, PMI of 0.5% of the loan a year when the down payment is under 20%, and FHA mortgage insurance of 0.55% a year plus a 1.75% upfront premium added to the loan. Your rate, taxes and insurance will differ.
What it takes: see what you can afford by salary in California · part of the San Francisco metro area.
California counties with similar prices
| County | Typical home | 1-yr change | Tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara County | $1,562,682 | +0.3% | 0.67% |
| Marin County | $1,484,731 | +4.8% | 0.66% |
| San Francisco County | $1,441,170 | +15.5% | 0.71% |
| Orange County | $1,174,873 | +3.2% | 0.66% |
| Santa Cruz County | $1,136,188 | +4.8% | 0.64% |
| Alameda County | $1,044,951 | -0.4% | 0.78% |
| Santa Barbara County | $988,595 | +4.3% | 0.65% |
| San Diego County | $926,979 | +0.8% | 0.68% |
| San Luis Obispo County | $897,661 | +2.0% | 0.68% |
| Los Angeles County | $871,674 | +0.4% | 0.68% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average home price in San Mateo County, CA?
The typical home value in San Mateo County is $1,579,058 (Zillow Home Value Index, September 2026).
How much do you need to earn to buy a house in San Mateo County?
About $432,500 a year for the typical home with 20% down at a 7.11% 30-year rate.
What is the property tax rate in San Mateo County?
The median effective rate is 0.61% of home value a year (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).