São Mateus vs Lajes: which Azores town suits you?
Their January highs are within 1°C of each other (16°C and 16°C). Lajes has cheaper homes to buy and less recorded crime; on the other measures the two are close.
Lajes
4,711 peopleChoose Lajes if you want
- Cheaper homes to buy in the municipality (€1,113/m², against €1,366/m²)
- Less recorded crime in the municipality (10.1 per 1,000 residents, against 31.9)
Side by side
Bold marks the better value where one is clearly better and both values are precise.
Climate
Town-level · ERA5-Land 1991-2020| Measure | São Mateus | Lajes |
|---|---|---|
| January high | 16°C | 16°C |
| January low | 14°C | 15°C |
| July high | 23°C | 23°C |
| Days above 35°C a year | 0 | 0 |
| Nights above 20°C a year | 94 | 94 |
| Frost days a year | 0 | 0 |
| Days with rain a year | 132 | 138 |
| Daylight on 21 December | 9 h 28 min | 9 h 29 min |
| Sea in August | 23°C | 23°C |
Daily life within a 15-minute walk
| Measure | São Mateus | Lajes |
|---|---|---|
| Grocery stores | 1 | 1 |
| Pharmacies | 0 | 1 |
| Doctors and clinics | 0 | 0 |
| Cafés | 2 | 1 |
| Restaurants | 5 | 7 |
Getting around
| Measure | São Mateus | Lajes |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest train station | – | – |
| Nearest bus station | 3.9 km | – |
| Nearest hospital | 4.5 km | 37 km |
| Nearest beach | 0.2 km | 10 km |
| Nearest airport with scheduled flights | 19 km | 24 km |
Housing and safety (whole municipality)
| Measure | São Mateus | Lajes |
|---|---|---|
| Median rent per m², per month | €4.95/m² | – |
| Sale price per m² | €1,366/m² | €1,113/m² |
| Sale price change, 5 years | +81% | +214% |
| Crimes recorded per 1,000 residents | 31.9 | 10.1 |
People
| Measure | São Mateus | Lajes |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,757 | 4,711 |
| Aged 65 and over | 13.9% | 27.6% |
| Under 15 | 15.3% | 10.7% |
| Born in another country | 3.0% | 5.4% |
Natural hazards
| Measure | São Mateus | Lajes |
|---|---|---|
| Earthquakes of M5+ within 100 km since 1900 | 14 | 15 |
Month by month
Town-level · ERA5-Land 1991-2020| High | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| São Mateus | 16° | 16° | 16° | 16° | 18° | 20° | 23° | 24° | 23° | 20° | 18° | 17° |
| Lajes | 16° | 16° | 16° | 17° | 18° | 20° | 23° | 24° | 23° | 21° | 18° | 17° |
The average highs are within 1°C of each other in every month.
São Mateus or Lajes: common questions
Which is warmer in winter, São Mateus or Lajes?
They are within 1°C of each other: average January highs of 16.2°C in São Mateus and 16.3°C in Lajes.
Which has more shops within walking distance?
Both have 1 grocery stores within a 15-minute walk of the centre.
Which is closer to an airport?
São Mateus is 19 km from Lajes Airport (TER); Lajes is 24 km from Pico Airport (PIX), in a straight line.
Cite or link
hexplace (2026). São Mateus vs Lajes: climate, homes and daily life compared. https://hexplace.org/portugal/compare/sao-mateus-vs-lajes/