San Francisco, CA vs Washington, DC

San Francisco, CA comes out ahead of Washington, DC on 25 of 48 statistics where one end is better, to 23. San Francisco, CA leads on Crime & Safety. Washington, DC leads on Economics.

48 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
25
Avg. percentile
43
Categories led
1
Washington, DC
Wins
23
Avg. percentile
37
Categories led
1

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

StatisticSan Francisco, CAWashington, DC
Population
812,530
17th of 477
698,733
22nd of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$140,970
38th of 434
$109,870
65th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$1.39M
411th of 434
$737,100
376th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
11.2%
135th of 434
15.4%
241st of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
115.6
tied last of 460
108.9
tied 384th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$100,220
tied 10th of 460
$91,930
tied 24th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$2,476
400th of 434
$1,954
354th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
486.2
250th of 395
746.8
329th of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

  • Crime & SafetySan Francisco, CA · 5 statistics
  • EconomicsWashington, DC · 14 statistics

Biggest differences

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

StatisticSan Francisco, CAWashington, DC
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
3.4
195th of 395
16.6
368th of 395
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
465.5
340th of 395
193.3
172nd of 395
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
11.2%
135th of 434
15.4%
241st of 434
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
172.6
tied 439th of 460
106.7
tied 329th of 460
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
93.0%
150th of 434
91.2%
241st of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
486.2
250th of 395
746.8
329th of 395
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
108.5
tied 441st of 460
104.8
tied 362nd of 460
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
374.1
314th of 395
650.5
371st of 395
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
106.2
tied 435th of 460
102.3
tied 371st of 460
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
115.6
tied last of 460
108.9
tied 384th of 460
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
194.7
tied 438th of 460
151.1
tied 390th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$2,476
400th of 434
$1,954
354th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$1.39M
411th of 434
$737,100
376th of 434
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$140,970
38th of 434
$109,870
65th of 434
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$74,260
tied 10th of 460
$71,060
tied 30th of 460
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
2,932.4
317th of 395
3,070.2
329th of 395
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$100,220
tied 10th of 460
$91,930
tied 24th of 460
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
60.3%
59th of 434
64.2%
48th of 434
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
30.4
390th of 434
30.0
384th 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, San Francisco, CA or Washington, DC?
San Francisco, CA comes out ahead of Washington, DC on 25 of 48 statistics where one end is better, to 23. San Francisco, CA leads on Crime & Safety. Washington, DC 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 Washington, DC?
San Francisco, CA has a population of 812,530 (17th of 477 US cities) and Washington, DC has 698,733 (22nd of 477).
How do San Francisco, CA and Washington, DC compare on Median Household Income?
Median Household Income: San Francisco, CA $140,970 (38th of 434), Washington, DC $109,870 (65th of 434) among US cities. San Francisco, CA ranks better.
How do San Francisco, CA and Washington, DC compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): San Francisco, CA $1.39M (411th of 434), Washington, DC $737,100 (376th of 434) among US cities. Washington, DC ranks better.
Where does San Francisco, CA beat Washington, DC most clearly?
San Francisco, CA ranks far ahead on Murder Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 3.4 vs 16.6; Poverty Rate (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 11.2% vs 15.4%; Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 93.0% vs 91.2%.
Where does Washington, DC beat San Francisco, CA most clearly?
Washington, DC ranks far ahead on Burglary Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 193.3 vs 465.5; Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 106.7 vs 172.6; Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 104.8 vs 108.5.

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