The Town FilesSan Francisco, California
City in San Francisco County · population 873,965 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $1,394,500
- Household income
- $140,970
- Jan low / Jul high
- 46° / 62°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 40.0
San Francisco is a city of 873,965 people in San Francisco County, California. The median home is worth $1,394,500, above the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks more walkable than 100% of California towns, more vibrant than 100% of California towns, better transit than 100% of California towns.
How San Francisco ranks
Percentile among California towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of California towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in San Francisco is worth $1,394,500, above the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 9.9 times the median household income of $140,970, which is more affordable than 10% of California towns. Median rent is $2,476 a month. 38.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | San Francisco | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,394,500 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $2,476 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $140,970 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 9.9× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 38.2% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1946 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.1% | — |
Who lives in San Francisco
| People | San Francisco | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.0 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.6% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 13.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 60.3% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.2% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 2.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 34.0% | — |
| Work from home | 31.0% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 30.4 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.0% | 93.3% |
Weather in San Francisco
July highs average 61.8°F and January lows 45.7°F. About 20.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 1 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of San Francisco since 1950.
Severe weather in San Francisco County since 1996
San Francisco County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 3, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4699: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3592: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4683: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 9, 2023 | Flood | EM-3591: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| March 22, 2020 | Biological | DR-4482: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in San Francisco County
San Francisco County had 707,646 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $174,103 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in San Francisco itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Towns near San Francisco
- Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CA29.0 mi · 11,492 people · home $1,863,900
- Mill Valley, CA29.5 mi · 14,231 people · home $2,000,001
- Kentfield, CA29.6 mi · 6,808 people · home $2,000,001
- Fairfax, CA29.9 mi · 7,605 people · home $1,163,600
San Francisco questions
Is San Francisco, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, San Francisco scores better for retirees than 33% of California towns and quieter than 17%. 17.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.0).
How much does a house cost in San Francisco?
The median owner-occupied home in San Francisco is valued at $1,394,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $140,970, so homes cost about 9.9 times income. Median rent is $2,476 a month.
What is the weather like in San Francisco?
July highs average 61.8°F and January lows 45.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 20.6 inches of precipitation a year.
Does San Francisco get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of San Francisco in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)