Los Angeles, CA vs San Francisco, CA

San Francisco, CA comes out ahead of Los Angeles, CA on 28 of 41 statistics where one end is better, to 13. San Francisco, CA leads on Economics and Crime & Safety.

41 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

Los Angeles, CA
Wins
13
Avg. percentile
33
Categories led
0
San Francisco, CA
Wins
28
Avg. percentile
45
Categories led
2

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

StatisticLos Angeles, CASan Francisco, CA
Population
3,863,148
2nd of 477
812,530
17th of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$81,939
151st of 434
$140,970
38th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$921,200
392nd of 434
$1.39M
411th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
16.5%
271st of 434
11.2%
135th of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
113.6
tied 423rd of 460
115.6
tied last of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$77,270
tied 61st of 460
$100,220
tied 10th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$1,933
352nd of 434
$2,476
400th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
667.7
309th of 395
486.2
250th of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

  • EconomicsSan Francisco, CA · 14 statistics
  • Crime & SafetySan Francisco, CA · 5 statistics

Biggest differences

The 19 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 239 US cities.

StatisticLos Angeles, CASan Francisco, CA
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
16.5%
271st of 434
11.2%
135th of 434
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$81,939
151st of 434
$140,970
38th of 434
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
38.5%
167th of 434
60.3%
59th of 434
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
2,235.5
246th of 395
2,932.4
317th of 395
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
5.8
263rd of 395
3.4
195th of 395
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$55,850
tied 87th of 460
$74,260
tied 10th of 460
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
308.4
275th of 395
465.5
340th of 395
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
667.7
309th of 395
486.2
250th of 395
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$77,270
tied 61st of 460
$100,220
tied 10th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$1,933
352nd of 434
$2,476
400th of 434
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
518.8
348th of 395
374.1
314th of 395
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
106.6
tied 411th of 460
108.5
tied 441st of 460
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
92.6%
172nd of 434
93.0%
150th of 434
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
170.4
tied 414th of 460
194.7
tied 438th of 460
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
113.6
tied 423rd of 460
115.6
tied last of 460
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$921,200
392nd of 434
$1.39M
411th of 434
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
104.4
tied 413th of 460
106.2
tied 435th of 460
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
158.6
tied 419th of 460
172.6
tied 439th of 460
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
30.7
396th of 434
30.4
390th 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, Los Angeles, CA or San Francisco, CA?
San Francisco, CA comes out ahead of Los Angeles, CA on 28 of 41 statistics where one end is better, to 13. San Francisco, CA leads on Economics and Crime & Safety. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Los Angeles, CA or San Francisco, CA?
Los Angeles, CA has a population of 3,863,148 (2nd of 477 US cities) and San Francisco, CA has 812,530 (17th of 477).
How do Los Angeles, CA and San Francisco, CA compare on Median Household Income?
Median Household Income: Los Angeles, CA $81,939 (151st of 434), San Francisco, CA $140,970 (38th of 434) among US cities. San Francisco, CA ranks better.
How do Los Angeles, CA and San Francisco, CA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Los Angeles, CA $921,200 (392nd of 434), San Francisco, CA $1.39M (411th of 434) among US cities. Los Angeles, CA ranks better.
Where does Los Angeles, CA beat San Francisco, CA most clearly?
Los Angeles, CA ranks far ahead on Property Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 2,235.5 vs 2,932.4; Burglary Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 308.4 vs 465.5; Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $1,933 vs $2,476.
Where does San Francisco, CA beat Los Angeles, CA most clearly?
San Francisco, CA ranks far ahead on Poverty Rate (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 11.2% vs 16.5%; Median Household Income (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $140,970 vs $81,939; Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 60.3% vs 38.5%.

More matchups

Other comparisons with Los Angeles, CA or San Francisco, CA.

All US cities matchups