

Denver, CO vs San Francisco, CA
San Francisco, CA comes out ahead of Denver, CO on 28 of 49 statistics where one end is better, to 21. Denver, CO leads on Economics. San Francisco, CA leads on Crime & Safety.
49 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 21
- Avg. percentile
- 44
- Categories led
- 1
- Wins
- 28
- Avg. percentile
- 45
- Categories led
- 1
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.
| Statistic | Denver, CO | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 746,590 19th of 477 | 812,530 17th of 477 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $94,718 98th of 434 | $140,970 38th of 434 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $616,000 354th of 434 | $1.39M 411th of 434 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 11.2% 137th of 434 | 11.2% 135th of 434 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 105.8 tied 360th of 460 | 115.6 tied last of 460 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $81,690 tied 46th of 460 | $100,220 tied 10th of 460 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,831 333rd of 434 | $2,476 400th of 434 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 875.7 355th of 395 | 486.2 250th of 395 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- Crime & SafetySan Francisco, CA · 5 statistics
- EconomicsDenver, CO · 14 statistics
Biggest differences
The 19 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 239 US cities.
| Statistic | Denver, CO | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 87.9 tied 153rd of 460 | 172.6 tied 439th of 460 |
| Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 99.4 tied 246th of 460 | 106.2 tied 435th of 460 |
| Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 101.0 tied 311th of 460 | 108.5 tied 441st of 460 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 875.7 355th of 395 | 486.2 250th of 395 |
| Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 24.9 285th of 434 | 30.4 390th of 434 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 105.8 tied 360th of 460 | 115.6 tied last of 460 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 756.4 380th of 395 | 374.1 314th of 395 |
| Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 5.7 261st of 395 | 3.4 195th of 395 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,831 333rd of 434 | $2,476 400th of 434 |
| Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 4,103.5 374th of 395 | 2,932.4 317th of 395 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $94,718 98th of 434 | $140,970 38th of 434 |
| Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 146.9 tied 380th of 460 | 194.7 tied 438th of 460 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $616,000 354th of 434 | $1.39M 411th of 434 |
| Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 583.5 368th of 395 | 465.5 340th of 395 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $81,690 tied 46th of 460 | $100,220 tied 10th of 460 |
| Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $62,320 tied 42nd of 460 | $74,260 tied 10th of 460 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 56.5% 71st of 434 | 60.3% 59th of 434 |
| Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 92.9% 156th of 434 | 93.0% 150th of 434 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 11.2% 137th of 434 | 11.2% 135th of 434 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, Denver, CO or San Francisco, CA?
- San Francisco, CA comes out ahead of Denver, CO on 28 of 49 statistics where one end is better, to 21. Denver, CO leads on Economics. San Francisco, CA leads on Crime & Safety. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, Denver, CO or San Francisco, CA?
- Denver, CO has a population of 746,590 (19th of 477 US cities) and San Francisco, CA has 812,530 (17th of 477).
- How do Denver, CO and San Francisco, CA compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: Denver, CO $94,718 (98th of 434), San Francisco, CA $140,970 (38th of 434) among US cities. San Francisco, CA ranks better.
- How do Denver, CO and San Francisco, CA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
- Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Denver, CO $616,000 (354th of 434), San Francisco, CA $1.39M (411th of 434) among US cities. Denver, CO ranks better.
- Where does Denver, CO beat San Francisco, CA most clearly?
- Denver, CO ranks far ahead on Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 87.9 vs 172.6; Price Level (Other Services) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 99.4 vs 106.2; Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 101.0 vs 108.5.
- Where does San Francisco, CA beat Denver, CO most clearly?
- San Francisco, CA ranks far ahead on Violent Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 486.2 vs 875.7; Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 374.1 vs 756.4; Murder Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 3.4 vs 5.7.
More matchups
Other comparisons with Denver, CO or San Francisco, CA.
- Aurora, CO vs Denver, CO
- Austin, TX vs Denver, CO
- Charlotte, NC vs Denver, CO
- Chicago, IL vs Denver, CO
- Colorado Springs, CO vs Denver, CO
- Columbus, OH vs Denver, CO
- Dallas, TX vs Denver, CO
- Denver, CO vs Detroit, MI
- Austin, TX vs San Francisco, CA
- Charlotte, NC vs San Francisco, CA
- Chicago, IL vs San Francisco, CA
- Columbus, OH vs San Francisco, CA
- Dallas, TX vs San Francisco, CA
- Detroit, MI vs San Francisco, CA
- El Paso, TX vs San Francisco, CA
- Fort Worth, TX vs San Francisco, CA