The Town FilesSouth San Francisco, California
City in San Mateo County · population 66,105 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $1,188,800
- Household income
- $136,578
- Jan low / Jul high
- 45° / 73°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 43.2
South San Francisco is a city of 66,105 people in San Mateo County, California. The median home is worth $1,188,800, above the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks better transit than 99% of California towns, more walkable than 91% of California towns, more vibrant than 91% of California towns.
How South 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 South San Francisco is worth $1,188,800, above the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 8.7 times the median household income of $136,578, which is more affordable than 19% of California towns. Median rent is $2,802 a month. 59.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | South San Francisco | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,188,800 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $2,802 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $136,578 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 8.7× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 59.0% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in South San Francisco
| People | South San Francisco | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.2% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.8% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.7% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 2.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 40.2% | — |
| Work from home | 17.4% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 25.6 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.6% | 93.3% |
Weather in South San Francisco
July highs average 72.6°F and January lows 44.5°F. About 19.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 0 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South San Francisco since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical California town. The strongest, an F1, struck on March 20, 2005 about 2.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 20, 2005.
Severe weather in San Mateo County since 1996
San Mateo County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| 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 |
| August 22, 2020 | Fire | DR-4558: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in San Mateo County
San Mateo County had 416,422 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $196,441 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in South San Francisco itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in South San Francisco
14 public schools with 6,588 students, about 18.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South San Francisco High | 9-12 | 1,287 | 18.1 |
| El Camino High | 9-12 | 1,088 | 18.1 |
| Alta Loma Middle | 6-8 | 649 | 18.0 |
| Parkway Heights Middle | 6-8 | 587 | 15.9 |
| Buri Buri Elementary | K-5 | 555 | 22.2 |
| Westborough Middle | 6-8 | 519 | 17.9 |
| Spruce Elementary | K-5 | 394 | 21.9 |
| Martin Elementary | K-5 | 382 | 20.1 |
| Ponderosa Elementary | K-5 | 370 | 20.6 |
| Sunshine Gardens Elementary | K-5 | 334 | 20.9 |
| Los Cerritos Elementary | K-5 | 305 | 20.3 |
| Baden High (Continuation) | 9-12 | 118 | 13.1 |
Towns near South San Francisco
- Brisbane, CA1.5 mi · 4,851 people · home $1,232,200
- San Bruno, CA3.6 mi · 43,908 people · home $1,207,500
- Millbrae, CA4.1 mi · 23,216 people · home $1,934,900
- Burlingame, CA4.6 mi · 31,386 people · home $2,000,001
- Daly City, CA5.8 mi · 104,901 people · home $1,115,000
- Broadmoor, CA6.3 mi · 4,411 people · home $1,254,600
- Pacifica, CA6.5 mi · 38,640 people · home $1,249,800
- Hillsborough, CA6.8 mi · 11,387 people · home $2,000,001
South San Francisco questions
Is South San Francisco, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South San Francisco scores better for retirees than 37% of California towns and quieter than 23%. 19.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.2).
How much does a house cost in South San Francisco?
The median owner-occupied home in South San Francisco is valued at $1,188,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $136,578, so homes cost about 8.7 times income. Median rent is $2,802 a month.
What is the weather like in South San Francisco?
July highs average 72.6°F and January lows 44.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 19.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does South San Francisco get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South San Francisco since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on March 20, 2005. The typical California town has had 2.
- 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)