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.

StatisticDenver, COSan 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.

StatisticDenver, COSan 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
See every statistic they shareSearch and sort all of them, adjust for cost of living or population, or add up to two more places.

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.