San Francisco, California

Innovation capital on the bay

Pacific San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro

U.S. News (2025)

#66 Best Places to Live

Forbes (2024)

#1 Best Cities for Tech

WhereAtHome Score

62.9

D-

out of 100

Overview

San Francisco remains the center of the tech industry, with headquarters and offices for major companies and startups alike. The city offers world-class dining, culture, and iconic landmarks. Extremely high housing costs, challenging streets, and quality-of-life concerns are significant trade-offs.

Key Highlights

  • Global tech industry headquarters
  • Iconic Golden Gate Bridge and landmarks
  • World-class dining and culture
  • Mild year-round climate
  • Walkable diverse neighborhoods
  • Strong LGBTQ+ community

Key Metrics

Population 2024

808,437

Source: Census ACS

$1,416,278

Source: Zillow ZHVI

$136,689

Source: Census ACS

33.4 min

Source: Census ACS

Walk Score 2025

89

Source: Walk Score

School Rating

2025

B- (6.5/10)

Source: Curated

195 (100 = U.S. avg)

Source: Curated

2024 Presidential Election

San Francisco County (county-level results)

80%
16%
Democrat 323,719
Republican 62,594
Leans D+64.8

Source: County-level results from MIT Election Data + Science Lab. Learn more

Climate

Summer High

68°F

Winter Low

46°F

Annual Rainfall

24"

Sunny Days

259

Amenities & Infrastructure

220+ Parks

Green spaces and recreation

12 Major Hospitals

Healthcare access

8 Universities

Higher education institutions

Public Transit Available

Bus, rail, or metro service

Major Employers

Salesforce Twitter Uber UCSF Gap

Score Breakdown

6 of 6 score factors available. Missing factors are excluded and available weights are rescaled.

Housing Affordability 14.5/100

Median home value relative to national average (Weight: 20%)

Income vs Housing 26.6/100

How affordable housing is relative to local incomes (Weight: 20%)

Commute Time 32.6/100

Average commute time compared to national average (Weight: 15%)

Crime 35/100

Overall crime levels based on FBI crime statistics (Weight: 20%)

Walkability 89/100

Walk Score — ease of daily errands on foot (Weight: 15%)

Purchasing Power 47.1/100

Median income relative to national average, adjusted for cost of living (Weight: 10%)

WhereAtHome Score 62.9

Location

San Francisco, CA (37.7749, -122.4194)
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Last Updated: 2026-07-01

Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau, Zillow, FBI Crime Data Explorer, Walk Score, and Niche.

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