Moving from San Mateo, CA to Toledo, OH

A 2374 mi cross-country move between San Mateo and Toledo is 41h 20m on paper and typically three to five days in practice, through 9 states. Nearly every household line β€” rent, taxes, climate, commute β€” usually shifts. This page assembles the federal and Zillow data to make those differences visible on a single screen.

2374 mi Β· 41h 20m by car Β· OH β†’ IN β†’ IL β†’ IA β†’ NE β†’ WY β†’ UT β†’ NV β†’ CA

COL -20.9% Home values -92.3% Ξ” -7.3Β°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
2374 mi
Drive time
41h 20m
States
9
Fuel (25 mpg)
95 gal
Route throughOH β†’ IN β†’ IL β†’ IA β†’ NE β†’ WY β†’ UT β†’ NV β†’ CA
Primary highwaysI 80, I 80 EXPRESS, I 90
Major cities en routeSouth Bend, Chicago, Joliet, Naperville, Aurora

Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Cost of living

San MateoToledoU.S. avg
All items (RPP)115.61391.455100.0
Rents172.58596.285100.0
Goods108.46593.628100.0
Services194.71867.317100.0

You are looking at a 20.9% cheaper overall price level β€” 115.613 β†’ 91.455 on the latest BEA Regional Price Parities.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level Β· MSA-level); 2024.

Housing prices

San Mateo β€” typical home
$1,686,905
Toledo β€” typical home
$129,627
San Mateo β€” typical rent
$3,503/mo
Toledo β€” typical rent
$1,092/mo

20.9% drop on the typical home value β€” a meaningful shift in monthly mortgage math.

YoY change: San Mateo +0.6%, Toledo +5.4%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsSan MateoToledo
Annual avg temperature59Β°F51Β°F
January avg low45Β°F20Β°F
July avg high73Β°F85Β°F
Annual snowfallβ€”β€”
Annual precipitation19.6"32.4"

Annual temperature drops 7.3Β°F moving to Toledo per NOAA normals.

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: SAN FRANCISCO INTL AP, CA US, TOLEDO METCALF FLD, OH US).

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023San MateoToledo
Population103,555268,461
Median household income$152,669$47,532
Median age3835.7
Bachelor's degree or higher31.4%13.7%
Avg household size2.62.27

Toledo households earn about 20.9% less than San Mateo at the median β€” $152,669 β†’ $47,532 on ACS 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.

Jobs & wages

San Mateo MSA β€” median wage
$72,050
Toledo MSA β€” median wage
$45,740
San Mateo MSA β€” employment
2,422,210
Toledo MSA β€” employment
290,070

Top occupations in Toledo MSA

OccupationEmploymentMedian wage
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations 33,160 $39,900
Production Occupations 31,420 $45,220
Office and Administrative Support Occupations 30,850 $41,570
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations 27,870 $28,590
Sales and Related Occupations 22,710 $32,930

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Moving between California and Ohio

California income tax
13.3% top marginal
Ohio income tax
3.5% top marginal

State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Ohio's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation β€” state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.

Best time to move

Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.

To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.

Winter driving along this route

  • I-80 across southern Wyoming frequently closes in winter storms November through April β€” check WYDOT 511 before departure.
  • I-80 through Parleys Canyon and I-70 through the San Rafael Swell see winter closures; I-15 north of Salt Lake can slow in storms.
  • I-80 east of Reno and US-50 across the Sierra can require chains in winter storms.
  • Donner Pass (I-80) and Tejon Pass (I-5 Grapevine) see chain requirements and occasional closures December through March.

State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.

Frequently asked

How does the job market in Toledo compare to San Mateo?

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $45,740 in the Toledo MSA vs $72,050 in the San Mateo MSA, on total employment of 290,070 and 2,422,210 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.

Is Toledo more expensive than San Mateo?

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Toledo is 20.9% lower than San Mateo (91.455 vs 115.613, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.

How much do homes cost in Toledo compared to San Mateo?

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $129,627 in Toledo vs $1,686,905 in San Mateo β€” a 92.3% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

How does household income compare in San Mateo vs Toledo?

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $47,532 in Toledo vs $152,669 in San Mateo β€” a 68.9% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.

When is the best time to move from San Mateo to Toledo?

Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 2374 mi drive, weather on the route matters too β€” see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

How far is Toledo, OH from San Mateo, CA?

The driving distance is 2374 mi and the route typically takes 41h 20m via I 80 and I 80 EXPRESS. The trip crosses 9 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Plan the move

Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from San Mateo.

City profiles: San Mateo, CA Β· Toledo, OH.

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