Avg Rent
$3,368
Population
777,336
Renter Mix
67% Rent
San Francisco is known for an array of attractions like the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, Chinatown and cable cars, the Painted Ladies and Fisherman’s Wharf, and so much more. This bayside city offers something for everyone. From its hilly streets to the sparkling water of the San Francisco Bay, this city is truly iconic. But it’s not just a tourist destination – San Francisco is a major metropolis with a powerhouse economy, featuring businesses like Dropbox, Reddit, Levi Strauss & Co, Wikimedia Foundation, Yelp, Twitter, and Weather Underground.
San Francisco is full of famous neighborhoods, from Haight-Ashbury and Pacific Heights to the Mission District and the Castro. Each district features its own distinctive personality. The art, culture, and entertainment scene in San Francisco is alive and well. Check out the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Golden Gate Park, Lands End Lookout, Union Square, Oracle Park, and the city’s sandy beaches like Ocean Beach and Baker Beach.
Several universities and colleges call San Francisco home, including the University of San Francisco, San Francisco State University, and the University of California, San Francisco. While you’ll find great mass transit options in this walkable city, the most popular mode of transportation for locals is cycling. San Francisco is the second most walkable city in the country, and earned “Gold” status from the League of American Bicyclists.
Downtown San Francisco can be seen from the Excelsior neighborhood.
With some of the best views of San Francisco, Pacific Heights has it all.
Aquatic Cove at Fisherman's Wharf is beloved by San Francisco swimmers and boaters.
The Golden Gate Bridge offers stunning views of San Francisco from Inspiration Point.
Eureka Valley/Dolores Heights has a million-dollar view of Mission Dolores Park.
The Financial District skyline is an iconic part of what makes San Francisco special.
Median Household Income
$128,655
Average: $157,377
Education
410,912
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
459,419
Workers Employed
Median Age
42 Years
Largest Age Group
30-39 Years
Approximately 19% of Residents
Under 20
17%
Over 65
19%
Housing Distribution
San Francisco has more renters than homeowners.
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in San Francisco, CA is $2,559 for a studio, $3,371 for one bedroom, $4,634 for two bedrooms, and $5,773 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in San Francisco has increased by 8.7% in the past year.
The cost of living in San Francisco, CA is 63.6% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in San Francisco is 154.1% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $2,559 - $5,773. You can expect to pay 15.5% more for groceries, 49.4% more for utilities, and 41.3% more for transportation.
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Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly San Francisco, CA is for everyday living.
Exceptionally Walkable
Walkability
Exceptional Public Transit
Transit
Fairly Drivable
Drivability
Moderately Bikeable
Bikeability
Public
Grades K-8
594 Students
The New School of San Francisco
Public
Grades K-8
457 Students
Stevenson (Robert Louis) Elementary School
Public
Grades K-5
442 Students
Stevenson (Robert Louis) Elementary
Public
Grades K-5
442 Students
Chinese Immersion School At Deavila
Public
Grades K-5
407 Students
Public
Grades K-8
594 Students
The New School of San Francisco
Public
Grades K-8
457 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
992 Students
Lilienthal (Claire) Elementary
Public
Grades K-8
673 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
1,183 Students
Asawa (Ruth) San Francisco School Of The Arts, A Public School.
Public
Grades 9-12
680 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,571 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,571 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,074 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,074 Students
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
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† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.
