

New York, NY vs San Francisco, CA
San Francisco, CA comes out ahead of New York, NY on 23 of 42 statistics where one end is better, to 19. New York, NY leads on Crime & Safety. San Francisco, CA leads on Economics.
42 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 19
- Avg. percentile
- 35
- Categories led
- 1
- Wins
- 23
- Avg. percentile
- 40
- Categories led
- 1
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.
| Statistic | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,546,038 1st of 477 | 812,530 17th of 477 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $80,483 tied 163rd of 434 | $140,970 38th of 434 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $777,600 380th of 434 | $1.39M 411th of 434 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 17.9% 299th of 434 | 11.2% 135th of 434 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 112.6 tied 421st of 460 | 115.6 tied last of 460 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $86,310 tied 41st of 460 | $100,220 tied 10th of 460 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,821 331st of 434 | $2,476 400th of 434 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 656.5 306th of 395 | 486.2 250th of 395 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- Crime & SafetyNew York, NY · 5 statistics
- EconomicsSan Francisco, CA · 14 statistics
Biggest differences
The 19 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 239 US cities.
| Statistic | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 149.7 129th of 395 | 465.5 340th of 395 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 17.9% 299th of 434 | 11.2% 135th of 434 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 183.0 193rd of 395 | 374.1 314th of 395 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $80,483 tied 163rd of 434 | $140,970 38th of 434 |
| Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 90.5% 260th of 434 | 93.0% 150th of 434 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 41.6% 142nd of 434 | 60.3% 59th of 434 |
| Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 127.0 tied 362nd of 460 | 172.6 tied 439th of 460 |
| Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 2,272.9 253rd of 395 | 2,932.4 317th of 395 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,821 331st of 434 | $2,476 400th of 434 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 656.5 306th of 395 | 486.2 250th of 395 |
| Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 148.6 tied 386th of 460 | 194.7 tied 438th of 460 |
| Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 40.3 432nd of 434 | 30.4 390th of 434 |
| Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $61,430 tied 50th of 460 | $74,260 tied 10th of 460 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $777,600 380th of 434 | $1.39M 411th of 434 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 112.6 tied 421st of 460 | 115.6 tied last of 460 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $86,310 tied 41st of 460 | $100,220 tied 10th of 460 |
| Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 3.3 188th of 395 | 3.4 195th of 395 |
| Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 110.3 tied 455th of 460 | 108.5 tied 441st of 460 |
| Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 105.8 tied 433rd of 460 | 106.2 tied 435th of 460 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, New York, NY or San Francisco, CA?
- San Francisco, CA comes out ahead of New York, NY on 23 of 42 statistics where one end is better, to 19. New York, NY leads on Crime & Safety. San Francisco, CA leads on Economics. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, New York, NY or San Francisco, CA?
- New York, NY has a population of 8,546,038 (1st of 477 US cities) and San Francisco, CA has 812,530 (17th of 477).
- How do New York, NY and San Francisco, CA compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: New York, NY $80,483 (tied 163rd of 434), San Francisco, CA $140,970 (38th of 434) among US cities. San Francisco, CA ranks better.
- How do New York, NY and San Francisco, CA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
- Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): New York, NY $777,600 (380th of 434), San Francisco, CA $1.39M (411th of 434) among US cities. New York, NY ranks better.
- Where does New York, NY beat San Francisco, CA most clearly?
- New York, NY ranks far ahead on Burglary Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 149.7 vs 465.5; Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 183.0 vs 374.1; Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 127.0 vs 172.6.
- Where does San Francisco, CA beat New York, NY most clearly?
- San Francisco, CA ranks far ahead on Poverty Rate (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 11.2% vs 17.9%; Median Household Income (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $140,970 vs $80,483; Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 93.0% vs 90.5%.
More matchups
Other comparisons with New York, NY or San Francisco, CA.
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