Population 17,824 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Nob Hill
Household size in Nob Hill
| Period | Nob Hill | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.88 | 2.74 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.81 | 2.79 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.78 | 2.83 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.68 | 2.75 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.19 | +0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Nob Hill is a place of small households, averaging 1.68 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 1.88 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of San Francisco's 43 neighborhoods, only two have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Nob Hill
| Period | Nob Hill | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.7 | 38.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.1 | 39.4 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.7 | 40.1 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.8 | 41.3 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.1 | +2.7 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Nob Hill skews a little older than the country: its median age is 41.8, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 40.7 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the north, the oldest in the east.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Nob Hill
| Period | Nob Hill | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.1% | 10.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.3% | 9.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 1.6% | 9.1% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.4% | 8.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Nob Hill: 2.4% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has fallen 1.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Nob Hill has the lowest share of single-parent households of any San Francisco neighborhood.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Nob Hill
Renters in Nob Hill
| Period | Nob Hill | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.2% | 43.7% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 83.9% | 46.2% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 83.3% | 45.3% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 82.7% | 44.5% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Nob Hill rent: 82.7% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Nearly half of owners (46.9%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 1.5 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Nob Hill
| Period | Nob Hill | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.9% | 8.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 7.1% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.9% | 6.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.1% | 7.5% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +9.2 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 21.1% of the housing in Nob Hill, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has risen 9.2 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Nob Hill
| Period | Nob Hill | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1939 | 1964 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1940 | 1965 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1940 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1944 | 1968 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Nob Hill is a place of older homes: half were built before 1944, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1939 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Nob Hill
| Period | Nob Hill | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,167 | $1,452 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,452 | $1,551 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,826 | $2,139 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,377 | $2,666 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,210 | +$1,214 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Nob Hill costs $2,377 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Locally, though, rents here are lower than in the San Francisco area as a whole ($2,666). Rent has climbed $1,210 a month since 2006–10, up 104%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 28.4% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Nob Hill
Bachelor's degrees in Nob Hill
| Period | Nob Hill | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 50.4% | 42.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 60.1% | 44.1% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 66.1% | 48.9% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 62.8% | 52.2% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.4 pts | +9.7 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Nob Hill: 62.8% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree is up 12.4 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Nob Hill
| Period | Nob Hill | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 80.5% | 86.8% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.1% | 87.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 86.5% | 88.8% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.8% | 89.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.3 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Nob Hill have finished high school as nationally: 87.8%, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 7.3 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Nob Hill
| Period | Nob Hill | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.3% | 7.8% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.2% | 8.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.6% | 4.6% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.0% | 5.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.0%, unemployment in Nob Hill is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is lower than in the wider San Francisco area (5.8%). Unemployment has fallen 2.3 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Nob Hill compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nob Hill | 1.68 | 41.8 | 2.4% | 82.7% | 21.1% | 1944 | $2,377 | 62.8% | 87.8% | 5.0% |
| Union Square | 1.65 | 42.5 | 3.7% | 90.8% | 21.6% | 1953 | $1,700 | 47.9% | 83.9% | 12.6% |
| Russian Hill | 1.84 | 39.1 | 3.7% | 77.7% | 17.1% | 1941 | $2,793 | 79.7% | 95.3% | 3.7% |
| Chinatown-San Francisco | 1.96 | 52.8 | 5.0% | 90.5% | 18.5% | 1939 | $1,137 | 29.8% | 58.5% | 10.3% |
| Downtown San Francisco | 1.57 | 43.6 | 5.7% | 92.3% | 16.8% | 1962 | $1,636 | 40.6% | 80.0% | 10.4% |
| Pacific Heights | 1.72 | 38.8 | 2.5% | 71.0% | 16.4% | 1940 | $3,074 | 84.3% | 97.4% | 4.4% |
| Cow Hollow | 1.96 | 34.5 | 4.2% | 70.4% | 16.7% | 1941 | $3,214 | 83.1% | 97.2% | 2.8% |
| Western Addition | 1.96 | 40.2 | 3.9% | 77.7% | 13.0% | 1959 | $2,340 | 66.6% | 93.4% | 6.7% |
| Marina-San Francisco | 1.90 | 32.0 | 3.1% | 71.5% | 16.3% | 1941 | $3,147 | 83.8% | 96.7% | 2.9% |
| Financial District | 1.73 | 40.7 | 4.5% | 77.1% | 21.4% | 1991 | $2,810 | 70.8% | 89.3% | 6.9% |
| South of Market | 1.84 | 38.0 | 4.8% | 70.5% | 14.0% | 2000 | $2,873 | 67.0% | 91.3% | 6.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: North Gateway, Phoenix, AZ · Save The Valley 21, El Paso, TX · Rose Hill, Alexandria, VA · Rockdale, Atlanta, GA · Printers Row, Chicago, IL · Palos Verdes Peninsula, Torrance, CA · Northwood, Irvine, CA · Northshore, Houston, TX · Northeast Dallas, Carrollton, TX · Seminary Hill, Alexandria, VA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Nob Hill. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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