Phoenix, AZ vs San Francisco, CA

Phoenix, AZ comes out ahead of San Francisco, CA on 26 of 48 statistics where one end is better, to 22. Phoenix, AZ leads on Economics and Crime & Safety.

48 statistics with a better end, compared

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

Phoenix, AZ
Wins
26
Avg. percentile
49
Categories led
2
San Francisco, CA
Wins
22
Avg. percentile
43
Categories led
0

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

StatisticPhoenix, AZSan Francisco, CA
Population
1,677,947
5th of 477
812,530
17th of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$81,332
158th of 434
$140,970
38th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$420,700
287th of 434
$1.39M
411th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
13.7%
199th of 434
11.2%
135th of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
103.3
tied 321st of 460
115.6
tied last of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$69,630
tied 156th of 460
$100,220
tied 10th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$1,582
277th of 434
$2,476
400th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
694.5
315th of 395
486.2
250th of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

  • EconomicsPhoenix, AZ · 14 statistics
  • Crime & SafetyPhoenix, AZ · 5 statistics

Biggest differences

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

StatisticPhoenix, AZSan Francisco, CA
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
95.0
tied 97th of 460
108.5
tied 441st of 460
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
33.6%
225th of 434
60.3%
59th of 434
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
93.3
tied 268th of 460
172.6
tied 439th of 460
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$51,380
tied 165th of 460
$74,260
tied 10th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$69,630
tied 156th of 460
$100,220
tied 10th of 460
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$420,700
287th of 434
$1.39M
411th of 434
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$1,582
277th of 434
$2,476
400th of 434
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$81,332
158th of 434
$140,970
38th of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
103.3
tied 321st of 460
115.6
tied last of 460
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
121.2
tied 319th of 460
194.7
tied 438th of 460
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
265.8
240th of 395
465.5
340th of 395
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
7.5
294th of 395
3.4
195th of 395
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
2,029.7
223rd of 395
2,932.4
317th of 395
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
25.6
301st of 434
30.4
390th of 434
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
91.4%
230th of 434
93.0%
150th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
694.5
315th of 395
486.2
250th of 395
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
13.7%
199th of 434
11.2%
135th of 434
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
104.0
tied 397th of 460
106.2
tied 435th of 460
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
350.3
305th of 395
374.1
314th of 395
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, Phoenix, AZ or San Francisco, CA?
Phoenix, AZ comes out ahead of San Francisco, CA on 26 of 48 statistics where one end is better, to 22. Phoenix, AZ 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, Phoenix, AZ or San Francisco, CA?
Phoenix, AZ has a population of 1,677,947 (5th of 477 US cities) and San Francisco, CA has 812,530 (17th of 477).
How do Phoenix, AZ and San Francisco, CA compare on Median Household Income?
Median Household Income: Phoenix, AZ $81,332 (158th of 434), San Francisco, CA $140,970 (38th of 434) among US cities. San Francisco, CA ranks better.
How do Phoenix, AZ and San Francisco, CA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Phoenix, AZ $420,700 (287th of 434), San Francisco, CA $1.39M (411th of 434) among US cities. Phoenix, AZ ranks better.
Where does Phoenix, AZ beat San Francisco, CA most clearly?
Phoenix, AZ ranks far ahead on Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 95.0 vs 108.5; Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 93.3 vs 172.6; Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $420,700 vs $1.39M.
Where does San Francisco, CA beat Phoenix, AZ most clearly?
San Francisco, CA ranks far ahead on Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 60.3% vs 33.6%; Median Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $74,260 vs $51,380; Average Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $100,220 vs $69,630.

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