Your life in San Francisco County, California

What stands out

Three things set San Francisco County apart from the other 3,142 counties: the median household income is among the highest in America ($136,689), the median home price is among the priciest in America ($1.4M), and the typical two-bedroom rent is among the highest in America ($2,771 a month). Within California it ranks 4th of 58 counties for the median household income.

Where you are

You live in San Francisco County, California. 851,036 people live here with you. The population held steady at 0.1% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -5,925).

California's 13.3% top income-tax rate applies only to income above roughly $1 million, and Proposition 13 caps property-tax growth at 2% a year for as long as you own the home, so long-time owners pay far less than new buyers on identical houses. Wildfire risk now drives insurance availability in much of the state, and several major carriers have stopped writing new homeowner policies.

Money

The typical household here brings in $136,689 a year, higher than almost every county in America. Employers pay an average wage of $174,103. Unemployment runs 2.5%, lower than 82% of American counties. 23% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 24 minutes each way.

California takes 6.7% of that median income in state income tax, about $9,151 a year.

Home

The median home costs $1.4M, pricier than almost every county in America, about 8.4 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $2,771 a month. Property tax is 0.66% of home value, roughly $8,835 a year on that median home, lower than 71% of American counties. 39% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 2.8 per 1,000 residents, lower than 97% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 60 people per 100,000 in 2024, one of the harder-hit counties in the country.

A child born here can expect to live 82.9 years, longer than almost every county in America. There are 8,150 active physicians in the county, about 95.8 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 3.3 of 5 stars. 4.0% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.99 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 53% of American counties. 89% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Democratic by 65 points, among the most lopsided counties in the country. 68% of eligible voters turned out. Under California law you need local approval to carry a concealed handgun, abortion is protected by state law, and marijuana is legal for adults.

Weather and risk

The year averages 58°F, highs near 65 and lows near 50, warmer than 58% of American counties. About 21 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 99 out of 100, riskier than almost every county in America; the county has had 11 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 266 Mbps down, faster than 81% of American counties. There are 0 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 2.0 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 39 breweries, 56 museums, 4 National Park Service sites.

Where these numbers come from

• BLS QCEW 2024
• CDC 2024
• CMS 2024
• Census 2023
• Census ACS
• Census ACS 2022
• Census Population Estimates 2023
• Census SAHIE 2024
• County Health Rankings 2024
• Derived from ACS 2022 home value / household income
• FAA Airport Database
• FEMA Disaster Declarations 1953–2026
• FEMA National Risk Index 2023 (0–100, all hazards)
• HRSA Area Health Resources File 2023
• IMLS
• NOAA Climate Normals
• National Park Service
• Ookla Speedtest Intelligence
• Open Brewery DB
• OpenElections 2024
• SEDA via County Health Rankings 2024 (3.0 = at grade level; not a Z-score)
• Tax Foundation 2023
• USDA Food Environment Atlas
• Zillow ZHVI 2024
• California tax and law data: state revenue department, Tax Foundation, Giffords, Guttmacher (2026)

Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure. Missing figures are left out rather than guessed. Share this page: the address is permanent.