Albany, CA vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Albany
68.2
#1329 nationally
San Francisco
62.9
#1817 nationally
San Francisco leads in median household income ($136,689 vs $124,469). San Francisco leads in cost of living index (195 vs 207). San Francisco leads in walk score (89 vs 84).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Albany, CA | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.2 (#1329) | 62.9 (#1817) |
| Population | 19,097 | 808,437 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,249,885 | $1,416,278 |
| Median Household Income | $124,469 | $136,689 |
| Average Commute | 31.7 min | 33.4 min |
| Walk Score | 84 | 89 |
| Crime Level | 3.8 | Moderate-High |
| School Rating | N/A | 6.5 |
| Cost of Living Index | 207 | 195 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+53.6 | D+64.8 |
D+
68.2 Score
Albany, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$1,249,885
Population
19,097
Crime
Low
Walk Score
84
Pacific
View Albany, CA →
D-
62.9 Score
San Francisco, CA
Innovation capital on the bay
Median Home
$1,416,278
Population
808,437
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
B-
Pacific
View San Francisco, CA →
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