

San Diego, CA vs San Francisco, CA
San Diego, CA comes out ahead of San Francisco, CA on 25 of 39 statistics where one end is better, to 14. San Diego, CA leads on Crime & Safety and Economics.
39 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 25
- Avg. percentile
- 52
- Categories led
- 2
- Wins
- 14
- Avg. percentile
- 45
- Categories led
- 0
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.
| Statistic | San Diego, CA | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,410,522 8th of 477 | 812,530 17th of 477 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $108,077 68th of 434 | $140,970 38th of 434 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $906,700 391st of 434 | $1.39M 411th of 434 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 11.0% 131st of 434 | 11.2% 135th of 434 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 111.9 tied 417th of 460 | 115.6 tied last of 460 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $79,060 tied 54th of 460 | $100,220 tied 10th of 460 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $2,313 395th of 434 | $2,476 400th of 434 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 372.3 191st of 395 | 486.2 250th of 395 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- Crime & SafetySan Diego, CA · 5 statistics
- EconomicsSan Diego, CA · 14 statistics
Biggest differences
The 19 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 239 US cities.
| Statistic | San Diego, CA | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 145.4 117th of 395 | 465.5 340th of 395 |
| Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 1,539.0 157th of 395 | 2,932.4 317th of 395 |
| Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 99.6 tied 265th of 460 | 106.2 tied 435th of 460 |
| Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 23.5 244th of 434 | 30.4 390th of 434 |
| Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 1.7 119th of 395 | 3.4 195th of 395 |
| Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 95.2% 69th of 434 | 93.0% 150th of 434 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 372.3 191st of 395 | 486.2 250th of 395 |
| Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $58,690 tied 70th of 460 | $74,260 tied 10th of 460 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 297.6 275th of 395 | 374.1 314th of 395 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $79,060 tied 54th of 460 | $100,220 tied 10th of 460 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 111.9 tied 417th of 460 | 115.6 tied last of 460 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $108,077 68th of 434 | $140,970 38th of 434 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 51.0% 87th of 434 | 60.3% 59th of 434 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $906,700 391st of 434 | $1.39M 411th of 434 |
| Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 108.0 tied 437th of 460 | 108.5 tied 441st of 460 |
| Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 179.3 tied 434th of 460 | 194.7 tied 438th of 460 |
| Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 174.2 tied 453rd of 460 | 172.6 tied 439th of 460 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $2,313 395th of 434 | $2,476 400th of 434 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 11.0% 131st of 434 | 11.2% 135th of 434 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, San Diego, CA or San Francisco, CA?
- San Diego, CA comes out ahead of San Francisco, CA on 25 of 39 statistics where one end is better, to 14. San Diego, CA leads on Crime & Safety and Economics. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, San Diego, CA or San Francisco, CA?
- San Diego, CA has a population of 1,410,522 (8th of 477 US cities) and San Francisco, CA has 812,530 (17th of 477).
- How do San Diego, CA and San Francisco, CA compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: San Diego, CA $108,077 (68th of 434), San Francisco, CA $140,970 (38th of 434) among US cities. San Francisco, CA ranks better.
- How do San Diego, CA and San Francisco, CA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
- Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): San Diego, CA $906,700 (391st of 434), San Francisco, CA $1.39M (411th of 434) among US cities. San Diego, CA ranks better.
- Where does San Diego, CA beat San Francisco, CA most clearly?
- San Diego, CA ranks far ahead on Burglary Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 145.4 vs 465.5; Property Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 1,539.0 vs 2,932.4; Price Level (Other Services) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 99.6 vs 106.2.
- Where does San Francisco, CA beat San Diego, CA most clearly?
- San Francisco, CA ranks far ahead on Median Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $74,260 vs $58,690; Average Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $100,220 vs $79,060; Median Household Income (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $140,970 vs $108,077.
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