San Francisco, CA vs Seattle, WA

Seattle, WA comes out ahead of San Francisco, CA on 27 of 49 statistics where one end is better, to 22. San Francisco, CA leads on Crime & Safety. Seattle, WA leads on Economics.

49 statistics with a better end, compared

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

San Francisco, CA
Wins
22
Avg. percentile
44
Categories led
1
Seattle, WA
Wins
27
Avg. percentile
48
Categories led
1

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

StatisticSan Francisco, CASeattle, WA
Population
812,530
17th of 477
792,909
18th of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$140,970
38th of 434
$123,860
49th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$1.39M
411th of 434
$938,600
394th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
11.2%
135th of 434
9.88%
113th of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
115.6
tied last of 460
111.1
tied 411th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$100,220
tied 10th of 460
$91,790
tied 34th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$2,476
400th of 434
$2,030
tied 369th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
486.2
250th of 395
698.7
318th of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

  • Crime & SafetySan Francisco, CA · 5 statistics
  • EconomicsSeattle, WA · 14 statistics

Biggest differences

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

StatisticSan Francisco, CASeattle, WA
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
172.6
tied 439th of 460
92.8
tied 262nd of 460
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
108.5
tied 441st of 460
104.0
tied 356th of 460
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
30.4
390th of 434
26.0
311th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
486.2
250th of 395
698.7
318th of 395
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
2,932.4
317th of 395
4,419.6
382nd of 395
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
374.1
314th of 395
733.9
376th of 395
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
465.5
340th of 395
975.9
392nd of 395
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
93.0%
150th of 434
94.5%
93rd of 434
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
3.4
195th of 395
4.4
232nd of 395
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
194.7
tied 438th of 460
151.3
tied 400th of 460
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
115.6
tied last of 460
111.1
tied 411th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$2,476
400th of 434
$2,030
tied 369th of 434
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
60.3%
59th of 434
68.4%
37th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
11.2%
135th of 434
9.88%
113th of 434
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$100,220
tied 10th of 460
$91,790
tied 34th of 460
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$1.39M
411th of 434
$938,600
394th of 434
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$140,970
38th of 434
$123,860
49th of 434
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$74,260
tied 10th of 460
$72,610
tied 24th of 460
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
106.2
tied 435th of 460
106.8
tied 449th of 460
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, San Francisco, CA or Seattle, WA?
Seattle, WA comes out ahead of San Francisco, CA on 27 of 49 statistics where one end is better, to 22. San Francisco, CA leads on Crime & Safety. Seattle, WA leads on Economics. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, San Francisco, CA or Seattle, WA?
San Francisco, CA has a population of 812,530 (17th of 477 US cities) and Seattle, WA has 792,909 (18th of 477).
How do San Francisco, CA and Seattle, WA compare on Median Household Income?
Median Household Income: San Francisco, CA $140,970 (38th of 434), Seattle, WA $123,860 (49th of 434) among US cities. San Francisco, CA ranks better.
How do San Francisco, CA and Seattle, WA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): San Francisco, CA $1.39M (411th of 434), Seattle, WA $938,600 (394th of 434) among US cities. Seattle, WA ranks better.
Where does San Francisco, CA beat Seattle, WA most clearly?
San Francisco, CA ranks far ahead on Violent Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 486.2 vs 698.7; Property Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 2,932.4 vs 4,419.6; Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 374.1 vs 733.9.
Where does Seattle, WA beat San Francisco, CA most clearly?
Seattle, WA ranks far ahead on Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 92.8 vs 172.6; Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 104.0 vs 108.5; Average Commute (Minutes) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 26.0 vs 30.4.

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