San Mateo Tops State at $2.27M Home Price and Passes Measures U & J

SAN RAMON, SAN MATEO & PALO ALTO, Calif. — Bay Area housing affordability data and Peninsula election returns underscored the region's high cost of living and governance reforms on Wednesday, November 4, as the California Association of Realtors ranked San Mateo, San Francisco, and Santa Clara counties as California’s 3 priciest housing markets and voters approved Measures U and J.

San Mateo, San Francisco, and Santa Clara Top Q3 2026 California Housing Prices

According to the California Association of Realtors’ Third Quarter (Q3) 2026 Housing Affordability report covered by The Almanac and the Mountain View Voice, San Mateo County remains California’s most expensive housing market with a median single-family home price of $2.27 million. Buyers need an annual household income of $578,400—more than 5 times the national figure—to cover estimated monthly payments of $14,460 (based on a 20% down payment and a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 6.8%), with 19% of county households able to afford the median home.

San Francisco ranked 2nd statewide with a $2 million median home price requiring $509,600 in annual income, followed by Santa Clara County at a $1.92 million median price requiring $489,200 in annual household income.

San Mateo County Voters Pass Measures U and J, Elect Sequoia Trustees, and Welcome Yiaya Greek Yogurt

In Peninsula election returns and local business news:

• Measure U (80.6% Yes) & Measure J (73.35% Yes): As reported by The Almanac and a companion report in The Almanac, San Mateo County mail-in ballots received by October 30 showed Measure U leading with 80.6% (105,692 Yes votes, with zero opposing ballot arguments) to create an independent redistricting commission for the county's 5 supervisorial districts. Voters also backed Measure J by 73.35% to 26.65%, doubling the Board of Supervisors' deadline to fill a vacant elected office from 30 days to 60 days and requiring at least 1 public meeting before an appointment, with the next tally scheduled for 5 p.m. Thursday, November 5 (Nov. 5).
• Sequoia Union High School District: According to The Almanac, Area A incumbent Amy Koo (representing Redwood Shores, Belmont, San Carlos, and parts of Redwood City) led challenger Alon Shiran 66.2% (4,902 votes) to 33.8% (2,506 votes), while Area D candidate Michael Dekshenieks (covering central Menlo Park, North Fair Oaks, and Atherton) led Sathvik Nori 90.3% (4,994 votes) to 9.7% (536 votes).
• Yiaya Greek Yogurt Opens in Palo Alto: As reported by The Almanac, owner Lia L. opened self-serve, pay-by-weight Yiaya Greek Yogurt in the former Blue Bin Vintage storefront in downtown Palo Alto, offering 6 rotating flavors at $1.30 per ounce with typical line waits of 15 to 20 minutes (and social media reports up to 40 minutes).