
Why is Housing So Expensive in San Mateo County?
Throughout the Bay Area, people are struggling to afford a home—but the situation is particularly acute on the peninsula. In the last three years, for every 26 jobs that have been created, only one home has been built. Local workers who are unable to find housing options in our communities are forced to commute long distances, worsening traffic. Local businesses have difficulty attracting and keeping qualified employees. And low-income families are hit the hardest. For families who stay in the county, rising rents force them to double up and to choose between paying for food, medication, or housing. As others move out of the area, the inability to meet housing needs in San Mateo is creating tidal waves of displacement throughout the Bay Area.