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Economy, jobs and prices in San Francisco, California: official figures

The median household income in San Francisco was $140,970 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 41st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the California median $99,122.

Median household income
$140,970
2020-2024
Unemployment rate (ACS)
6.1%
2020-2024
Mean travel time to work
30.4 min
2020-2024
Median gross rent (monthly)
$2,476
2020-2024
Median home value (owner-occupied)
$1,394,500
2020-2024
Homes occupied by their owners
38.2%
2020-2024
Households with a broadband subscription
93.0%
2020-2024

What is the per capita income in San Francisco?

Income per resident (per capita income) in San Francisco averaged $92,289 a year in 2020-2024, 14th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; California: $49,513).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How unequal are incomes in San Francisco?

San Francisco's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.522 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 48th most unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in San Francisco, California?

6.1% of the civilian labor force in San Francisco was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (30,906 people), 251st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and California's 6.6%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in San Francisco are working?

69.6% of San Francisco's 729,111 residents aged 16 and over were in the labor force (working or looking for work) in 2020-2024, 171st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 63.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in San Francisco have jobs?

476,356 residents of San Francisco held civilian jobs, 65.3% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 544 served in the armed forces.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What are the main industries in San Francisco?

The largest industry group for working residents of San Francisco was professional, scientific, management and administrative services (26.7% of employed residents), followed by education, health care and social assistance (20.3%) and finance, insurance and real estate (8.6%), 2020-2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in San Francisco work in manufacturing?

Manufacturing employed 5.1% of working residents of San Francisco, 91st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 26.7% (US: 12.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How long is the commute in San Francisco, California?

Commuters in San Francisco took 30.4 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 135th longest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 11.3% travelled an hour or more and 13.8% less than 15 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How do people in San Francisco get to work?

31.0% of workers living in San Francisco worked from home in 2020-2024, 38th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 28.6% drove to work alone, 5.9% carpooled, 18.7% used public transport and 9.4% walked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the average rent in San Francisco, California?

The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in San Francisco was $2,476 a month in 2020-2024, 50th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; California: $2,036).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does a house cost in San Francisco?

Owner-occupied homes in San Francisco had a median value of $1,394,500 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 19th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; California: $734,700).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How affordable are homes in San Francisco?

The median home value in San Francisco was 9.9 times the median household income, 25th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in San Francisco, California own their home?

38.2% of the 363,970 occupied homes in San Francisco were lived in by their owners in 2020-2024 and 224,913 were rented, 46th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more for home ownership (US: 65.2%; California: 55.9%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of homes in San Francisco have broadband?

93.0% of households in San Francisco had a broadband internet subscription of some type in 2020-2024, 377th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 91.0%; California: 93.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many households in San Francisco have no internet?

4.3% of households in San Francisco (15,743) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 357th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 8.5% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How San Francisco compares with other cities in the United States

Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

San Francisco ranks 41 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian household income (2024 dollars)
38Bowie$141,995
39Queen Creek$141,978
40Carmel$141,505
41San Francisco$140,970
42Laguna Niguel$140,452
43Bothell$140,427
44San Clemente$140,062
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

San Francisco ranks 14 of 823, highest first.

RankCityPer capita income (2024 dollars)
11Santa Monica$94,641
12Edina$93,210
13Redmond$92,776
14San Francisco$92,289
15Santa Clara$89,833
16Pleasanton$88,401
17Seattle$86,095
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)

San Francisco ranks 48 of 823, highest first.

RankCityGini index of household income inequality
45Peoria0.523
46Scottsdale0.523
47Memphis0.522
48San Francisco0.522
49Macon-Bibb County0.522
50Pittsburgh0.521
51Sandy Springs0.521
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)

San Francisco ranks 251 of 823, highest first.

RankCityUnemployment rate (share of civilian labor force)
248San Bernardino6.1%
249Casa Grande6.1%
250Boston6.1%
251San Francisco6.1%
252Tulsa6.1%
253Racine6.1%
254Cranston6.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)

San Francisco ranks 171 of 823, highest first.

RankCityLabor force participation rate (16 and over)
168Kentwood69.7%
169Meridian69.7%
170Danbury69.7%
171San Francisco69.6%
172Greer69.6%
173Cambridge69.6%
174Allen69.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)

San Francisco ranks 135 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMean travel time to work (minutes)
132Thornton30.4
133Framingham30.4
134Missouri City30.4
135San Francisco30.4
136Highland30.4
137Pembroke Pines30.4
138Fremont30.3
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)

San Francisco ranks 38 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers who worked from home
35Scottsdale31.1%
36Folsom31.0%
37Oak Park31.0%
38San Francisco31.0%
39Cambridge30.8%
40Walnut Creek30.8%
41Austin30.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)

San Francisco ranks 17 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers commuting by public transportation
14Somerville19.3%
15Hempstead19.2%
16Malden18.8%
17San Francisco18.7%
18Cambridge18.0%
19Chicago17.7%
20Philadelphia16.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)

San Francisco ranks 733 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents working in manufacturing
730Ocala5.2%
731Smyrna5.1%
732Jupiter5.1%
733San Francisco5.1%
734Marietta5.1%
735Redding5.1%
736West Sacramento5.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)

San Francisco ranks 637 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents in education, health care and social assistance
634Cape Coral20.3%
635Houston20.3%
636Escondido20.3%
637San Francisco20.3%
638Laguna Niguel20.3%
639Eastvale20.3%
640Newark20.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)

San Francisco ranks 50 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian gross rent per month
47Boca Raton$2,508
48Novato$2,506
49Tracy$2,478
50San Francisco$2,476
51Alameda$2,474
52San Clemente$2,460
53Santa Cruz$2,452
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)

San Francisco ranks 19 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian value of owner-occupied homes
16Sammamish$1,407,300
17Fremont$1,403,800
18San Clemente$1,398,400
19San Francisco$1,394,500
20San Rafael$1,355,600
21Bellevue$1,340,300
22Dublin$1,317,100
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)

San Francisco ranks 24 of 820, highest first.

RankCityMedian home value as a multiple of median household income
21Westminster10.0x
22Costa Mesa10.0x
23San Clemente10.0x
24San Francisco9.9x
25Urban Honolulu9.7x
26Alhambra9.7x
27Sunnyvale9.7x
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)

San Francisco ranks 778 of 823, highest first.

RankCityOccupied homes lived in by their owners
775Bellflower39.3%
776Jacksonville38.7%
777Mountain View38.6%
778San Francisco38.2%
779Albany38.2%
780Irving38.1%
781Rochester38.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)

San Francisco ranks 377 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with a broadband subscription
374Downey93.0%
375Grand Prairie93.0%
376Hampton93.0%
377San Francisco93.0%
378Palmdale93.0%
379Richmond93.0%
380Anaheim93.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with no internet access (2020-2024)

San Francisco ranks 467 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with no internet access
464Murfreesboro4.4%
465Lakewood4.4%
466Citrus Heights4.3%
467San Francisco4.3%
468Federal Way4.3%
469Fargo4.3%
470Des Plaines4.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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