Real Estate Investing in San Mateo County, California

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

28 ZIP codes • Population: 762,764

Should you buy in San Mateo County, CA? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (37/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

πŸ“ˆ For Investors
WEAK
2.1 / 5 (34/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 β€” slower evictions, more regulations.

What’s happening in San Mateo County, CA?

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2.1/ 5

Investability

County-wide average

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

2.2% 5yr CAGR

1.0/ 5

Landlord Climate

Regulatory friendliness

Avg Investability β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…
Avg Home Value $2,099,902
Avg Monthly Rent $4,195
ZIP Codes 28

Investing in San Mateo County Real Estate

San Mateo County spans 28 ZIP codes across 21 cities in California, with a population of 762,764. The county's tepid investment metrics reflect deeper structural challenges β€” worth studying before making commitments.

Investors considering San Mateo, California should understand what the β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜† rating represents β€” a region with material challenges, not a temporary rough patch.

The 0% renter share in San Mateo masks uneven tenant quality across ZIPs, and $N/AK median income leaves little cushion against economic shocks.

A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in San Mateo County, CA. Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving San Mateo County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Bayside Property Management is a Peninsula Property Management Company serving San Mateo County. summary from their website

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Boardwalk Investments Property Management specializes in property management and leasing in San Francisco and the Northern Peninsula. summary from their website

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Five Star Property Management is a leader in single-family, condominium, and multi-family apartment rentals property management in San Mateo and Northern California. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience β€” Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Avg Home Value
$2,099,902
Avg Monthly Rent
$4,195
1% Rule
βœ— Below
Landlord Friendly (CA)
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†β˜†

πŸŽ“ Colleges & Universities in San Mateo County

9 Colleges 26,641 Students 1,398 Off-Campus Renters
C+
Hilltop Beauty School
Vocational For-Profit Β· 79 students
C+
College of San Mateo
2-Year Public Β· 9,208 students
πŸ“ ~368 students rent off-campus
C+
Canada College
2-Year Public Β· 6,141 students
πŸ“ ~239 students rent off-campus
C
Skyline College
4-Year Public Β· 9,428 students
πŸ“ ~791 students rent off-campus
C
Menlo College
4-Year Private Β· 840 students
C
Notre Dame de Namur University
4-Year Private Β· 237 students
C
Unitek College
Vocational For-Profit Β· 255 students
D
San Mateo County Community College District Office
4-Year Public Β· 0 students
D
Alder Graduate School of Education
4-Year Private Β· 453 students

Investor Insight: With 1,398 students living off-campus, San Mateo County has substantial rental demand from the college population β€” typically stable, lease-renewing tenants.

Cities in San Mateo County

ZIP Codes in San Mateo County, CA

94080 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
South San Francisco
Population 65,036
Avg Home $1,233,459
Avg Rent $4,094/mo
94015 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Daly City
Population 64,121
Avg Home $1,187,986
Avg Rent $2,679/mo
94303 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
East Palo Alto
Population 47,123
Avg Home $2,076,745
Avg Rent $5,073/mo
94014 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Daly City
Population 46,269
Avg Home $1,012,437
Avg Rent $3,333/mo
94403 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
San Mateo
Population 43,459
Avg Home $1,824,325
Avg Rent $3,746/mo
94066 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
San Bruno
Population 42,875
Avg Home $1,311,213
Avg Rent $3,339/mo
94010 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Hillsborough
Population 42,794
Avg Home $3,502,303
Avg Rent $3,976/mo
94025 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Menlo Park
Population 40,230
Avg Home $2,926,689
Avg Rent $4,351/mo
94044 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Pacifica
Population 37,540
Avg Home $1,276,756
Avg Rent $3,582/mo
94061 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Redwood City
Population 37,369
Avg Home $1,985,786
Avg Rent $3,621/mo
94404 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Foster City
Population 35,950
Avg Home $1,721,582
Avg Rent $4,302/mo
94401 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
San Mateo
Population 35,628
Avg Home $1,220,483
Avg Rent $3,583/mo
94063 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Redwood City
Population 34,695
Avg Home $1,294,085
Avg Rent $4,327/mo
94070 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
San Carlos
Population 30,696
Avg Home $2,455,688
Avg Rent $4,660/mo
94002 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Belmont
Population 27,730
Avg Home $2,291,971
Avg Rent $3,524/mo
94062 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Emerald Lake Hills
Population 25,944
Avg Home $2,722,143
Avg Rent $4,210/mo
94402 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
San Mateo
Population 25,498
Avg Home $2,468,871
Avg Rent $4,022/mo
94030 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Millbrae
Population 22,589
Avg Home $2,055,707
Avg Rent $3,767/mo
94019 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Half Moon Bay
Population 14,754
Avg Home $1,571,151
Avg Rent $4,738/mo
94065 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Redwood City
Population 11,620
Avg Home $1,815,038
Avg Rent $3,990/mo
94027 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Atherton
Population 7,030
Avg Home $8,661,875
Avg Rent $15,500/mo
94028 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Portola Valley
Population 6,645
Avg Home $4,317,428
Avg Rent $3,438/mo
94005 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Brisbane
Population 4,718
Avg Home $1,160,113
Avg Rent $3,012/mo
94018 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Half Moon Bay
Population 3,404
Avg Home $1,510,184
Avg Rent $2,943/mo
94038 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Moss Beach
Population 3,016
Avg Home $1,480,366
Avg Rent $2,853/mo
94037 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Moss Beach
Population 2,897
Avg Home $1,512,165
Avg Rent $3,681/mo
94020 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
La Honda
Population 1,745
Avg Home $1,015,015
Avg Rent $3,627/mo
94060 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Pescadero
Population 1,389
Avg Home $1,185,682
Avg Rent $3,483/mo

Screen every market in San Mateo County

Filter this county’s ZIPs by cap rate, vacancy, appreciation and 30+ more criteria, and export your shortlist to CSV — with the Investor plan ($19/mo). Add weekly alerts when these markets move with Investor Pro+.

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Frequently Asked Questions About San Mateo County

Is, CA a smart market for rental property?

, CA reports an investability rating of 2.1/5, with median home values near $2.1M and average rents around $4,195/mo. That combination puts it in the robust tier for investor interest.

Where do rents currently stand in, CA?

Expect rents around $4,195/mo per month in, CA. With home values at $2.1M, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

How do experienced investors play, CA?

For, CA, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

How expensive is real estate in, CA?

Homes in, CA typically sell near $2.1M. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which consistent long-term demand.

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