Palo Alto, 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.
Palo Alto
67.4
#1429 nationally
San Francisco
62.9
#1817 nationally
Palo Alto leads in median household income ($214,118 vs $136,689). San Francisco leads in walk score (89 vs 61). Palo Alto leads in average commute (23.9 min vs 33.4 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Palo Alto, CA | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 67.4 (#1429) | 62.9 (#1817) |
| Population | 65,882 | 808,437 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $3,599,324 | $1,416,278 |
| Median Household Income | $214,118 | $136,689 |
| Average Commute | 23.9 min | 33.4 min |
| Walk Score | 61 | 89 |
| Crime Level | 5.8 | Moderate-High |
| School Rating | N/A | 6.5 |
| Cost of Living Index | N/A | 195 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+40.0 | D+64.8 |
D+
67.4 Score
Palo Alto, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$3,599,324
Population
65,882
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
61
Pacific
View Palo Alto, 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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