This page delivers traffic analytics for San Mateo County, California. Our metrics are calculated with multi-sourced, cross-verified data from real-world mobile and sensor networks, and averaged for San Mateo County, California among 793 road miles divided in 24,394 segments. Our metrics go beyond simple volume counts to provide actionable insights on traffic intensity, congestion, commercial vehicle flow, and network performance with highest possible granularity (average segment length is 172 ft). Whether you are evaluating a new retail location, planning logistics routes, or assessing infrastructure needs, this data helps you move from assumptions to certainty.
Data sourced from TrafficZoom's proprietary analytics platform.
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
10,326
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
5.8%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
31.7 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
24.4%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
44.9 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$163,496
Our data indicates an estimated average traffic volume of 10,326 vehicles per day in San Mateo County, California that results in 14,586,140 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈5.3 billion per year). The traffic stream is comprised of an average of 1 truck for every 17 vehicles. Typical time spent behind the wheel per trip is 31.7 minutes, which already accounts for delays at signals, intersections, and congestion.
Analytical insight
When compared to the California state averages: San Mateo sees 19% lower average daily traffic volume than the state average (10,326 vehicles per day against 12,766), suggesting less demand on each road - a critical factor for logistics and site planning. Across the whole network that adds up to 14,586,140 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈5.3 billion per year), roughly 1.6% of California's statewide total. Journey times run 8% lower than the state level, at 31.7 minutes on average. Congestion runs 11% lower than the state level, at a ratio of 24.4% - smoother traffic flow - crucial for traffic control improvement and logistics planning. San Mateo carries more traffic than 79% of counties in California. On travel time, San Mateo runs longer than 13% of counties in California.
Highway vs. Non-Highway Traffic Analysis
Highway Traffic
Traffic
Traffic
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
34,326
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
6.4%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
35.6 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
54.8%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
44.8 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$162,882
A significant volume of traffic in San Mateo County, California utilizes the highway network. The average highway carries 34,326 vehicles per day, 283% more than the average non-highway road in the same area, which carries 8,967 vehicles per day. That average covers 191 highway road miles divided in 1,307 segments (average segment length 772 ft), together carrying 9,588,443 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈3.5 billion per year). 75% of counties in California move less traffic on their highways. Trucks constitute 6.4% of highway traffic.
Analytical insight
The concentration of trucks on highways (6.4%) is 39% lower than the state average for similar road classifications. This indicates San Mateo serves as a primarily local traffic hub. For logistics operators, this validates the importance of local access. By truck concentration, highways here outrank 4% of counties in California. 57% of counties in California see fewer highway trucks per day than San Mateo's roughly 2,187.
Non-highway traffic
Traffic
Traffic
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
8,967
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
4.5%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
31.5 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
22.7%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
45.1 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$164,257
The non-highway road network in San Mateo County, California supports a substantial volume of traffic. The average non-highway road carries 8,967 vehicles per day, 74% less than the average highway in the same area, which carries 34,326 vehicles per day. That average covers 602 non-highway road miles divided in 23,087 segments (average segment length 138 ft), together carrying 4,997,696 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈1.8 billion per year). Trucks constitute 4.5% of non-highway traffic.
Analytical insight
Non-highway roads carry a truck concentration that's 29% lower than the highway network. At 14% lower than the state level, the non-highway congestion ratio of 22.7% signals easier movement on local roads. Overall, average travel time here is longer than 13% of counties in California. Trips here originate from the highest average driver income in California, at $163,496. San Mateo's median driver age is higher than 47% of counties in California.
Time-of-Day & Seasonal Patterns
Peak Traffic Windows
Weekday peaks:
AM peak 8:00 AM–9:00 AM and PM peak 3:00 PM–8:00 PM, with volumes reaching approximately 74% higher than the daily average.
Weekend traffic:
Weekend volumes run about 12% below weekday levels.
Seasonal Fluctuation
Busy season:
April–June is the high season, with volumes +33% versus the annual average.
Lowest month:
December is the quietest month, with volumes -38% versus the annual average.
Analytical insight
In San Mateo County, California, the peak hour concentrates about 7% of the day's traffic, and seasonal swing is pronounced at +33% in high season.
Traffic Flow Profile Comparison
Metric
San Mateo
California
Average
Difference
Traffic
10,326
12,766
-19.1%
Truck % (Total Traffic)
5.8%
7.8%
-26.0%
Truck % (Highway)
6.4%
10.4%
-38.6%
Avg. Travel Time
31.7 min
34.5 min
-8.1%
Frequently Asked Questions
The average daily traffic volume is calculated at 10,326 vehicles per day, providing a baseline for daily operations and site assessment.
Yes - San Mateo has the highest average driver income of any county in California, at $163,496.
Trucks account for approximately 5.8% of the total traffic mix across all road types, with a significantly higher concentration of 6.4% on highways.
Traffic volumes are typically 33% higher during April–June. Volumes drop to their lowest levels in December, averaging 6,414 vehicles per day - a 38% decrease from the annual average.
Drivers on San Mateo roads have a median age of 45 years, and the median household income of the neighborhoods trips originate from averages $163,496 - useful context for retail siting and customer profiling.
Approximately 19% of highway traffic and 5% of non-highway traffic consists of vehicles whose trip originates outside San Mateo County, California. This indicates that a portion of highway traffic is regional pass-through, while local roads are more representative of resident and commuter activity.
Weekday peaks occur between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM in the morning and between 3:00 PM and 8:00 PM in the evening - about 74% above the daily average.
The average travel time for drivers is 31.7 minutes, offering a standard metric for commute and delivery route planning.
Data Sources & Methodology
The data presented on this page is derived from TrafficZoom's proprietary analytics platform, which aggregates and normalizes information from multiple sources, including:
Mobile device location data (anonymized and aggregated)
