Livability Awards
Located in the state of California, San Francisco is a big city with a population of 850,282 inhabitants. San Francisco has a population density of 18,128 people per square mile. This would be considered well above the national population density level. Individuals of White (48%) and Asian (34%) backgrounds make up a significant portion of the population of San Francisco. San Francisco has a high percentage of people who are married with children when compared to the rest of the country. In total, more than 75% of the population is classified as married and 63% have kids.
Are you trying to figure out if living in San Francisco is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a good experience before relocating to any new city in California, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. To help you find the best places to live in and around San Francisco, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, weather, education and more.
Using data and statistics San Francisco has received a livability score of 68 out of 100. This score is ranked in the 53rd percentile when compared to all other cities. Based on the scores for each individual category, San Francisco has been rewarded with high marks for weather (B+), employment (B+) and housing (B+). There is at least one category that does not have great scores in San Francisco. The following was graded with a concerning score: crime (F) and cost of living (F).
Based on the proximity of local amenities like grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, parks, librairies, etc., San Francisco has received a higher than average score for its local amenities. If you’re planning on relocating and making this area your permanent home, it’s nice to know that there is an ample amount of amenities and things to do within walking distance or a short drive. Some of the interesting things to do and attractions include: Alcatraz, Golden Gate Bridge, and Cable Cars.
Finding affordable real estate and apartments for rent in San Francisco can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category.
There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are available, most people will need to know if the real estate in San Francisco is actually affordable. Median real estate prices in San Francisco come in at $858,800, which is 109.8% higher than the California average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In San Francisco, the home price to income ratio is 9.8, which is 53.1% higher than the California average. Real estate appreciation rates in San Francisco are important to consider, as they can act as a guide to determine if your new home purchase will be a solid investment going forward. During the last twelve months, the appreciation rate for San Francisco homes comes in at 8.1%, and the 5 year appreciation rates were 10.9%.
| Statistic | San Francisco | California | National |
| Average one way commute | 32min | 28min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 35.0% | 73.5% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 7.2% | 10.6% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 33.6% | 5.2% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 4.1% | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 10.6% | 2.7% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 6.6% | 5.4% | 4.6% |
| Walk | Bike | Compact | Car | S.U.V. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distance | |||||
| Duration | |||||
| Cost/Month |
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