Population 16,057 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in North Beach
Household size in North Beach
| Period | North Beach | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.93 | 2.74 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.02 | 2.79 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.98 | 2.83 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.93 | 2.75 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.01 | +0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
North Beach is a place of small households, averaging 1.93 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the west.
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 North Beach
| Period | North Beach | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.9 | 38.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.2 | 39.4 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.8 | 40.1 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.4 | 41.3 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.5 | +2.7 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
North Beach skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.4, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 41.9, as it has nationally.
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 North Beach
| Period | North Beach | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.4% | 10.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.4% | 9.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.2% | 9.1% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 8.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in North Beach: 4.6% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has edged down 0.8 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 North Beach
Renters in North Beach
| Period | North Beach | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 78.8% | 43.7% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 79.0% | 46.2% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 79.1% | 45.3% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 79.0% | 44.5% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in North Beach: 79.0% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. About half of owners (50.9%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the southwest; owners are most common in the northeast.
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 North Beach
| Period | North Beach | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.2% | 8.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 7.1% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 14.1% | 6.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.3% | 7.5% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in North Beach: 17.3% of homes are empty, 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. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 2.0 points, 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 North Beach
| Period | North Beach | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1949 | 1964 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1951 | 1965 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1950 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1956 | 1968 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
North Beach is a place of older homes: half were built before 1956, 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 1949 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the south has the oldest housing.
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 North Beach
| Period | North Beach | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,247 | $1,452 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,390 | $1,551 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,601 | $2,139 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,132 | $2,666 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$885 | +$1,214 | +$931 | +$606 |
Rent in North Beach runs $2,132 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are lower than in the wider San Francisco area ($2,666). Rents are up $885 a month from 2006–10, a 71% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 26.5% of household income on rent, comfortably 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 North Beach
Bachelor's degrees in North Beach
| Period | North Beach | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 50.9% | 42.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 51.6% | 44.1% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 53.3% | 48.9% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 56.8% | 52.2% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +9.7 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in North Beach: 56.8% 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 has risen 5.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 North Beach
| Period | North Beach | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 77.1% | 86.8% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 80.9% | 87.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 78.1% | 88.8% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 83.9% | 89.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.8 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in six adults in North Beach never finished high school, well above the national share: only 83.9% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 6.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 North Beach
| Period | North Beach | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 7.8% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 8.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.8% | 4.6% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.5% | 5.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in North Beach than nationally: unemployment was 6.5%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 1.4 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
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).
North Beach 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Beach | 1.93 | 45.4 | 4.6% | 79.0% | 17.3% | 1956 | $2,132 | 56.8% | 83.9% | 6.5% |
| Chinatown-San Francisco | 1.96 | 52.8 | 5.0% | 90.5% | 18.5% | 1939 | $1,137 | 29.8% | 58.5% | 10.3% |
| Financial District | 1.73 | 40.7 | 4.5% | 77.1% | 21.4% | 1991 | $2,810 | 70.8% | 89.3% | 6.9% |
| Russian Hill | 1.84 | 39.1 | 3.7% | 77.7% | 17.1% | 1941 | $2,793 | 79.7% | 95.3% | 3.7% |
| 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% |
| Downtown San Francisco | 1.57 | 43.6 | 5.7% | 92.3% | 16.8% | 1962 | $1,636 | 40.6% | 80.0% | 10.4% |
| South of Market | 1.84 | 38.0 | 4.8% | 70.5% | 14.0% | 2000 | $2,873 | 67.0% | 91.3% | 6.6% |
| Cow Hollow | 1.96 | 34.5 | 4.2% | 70.4% | 16.7% | 1941 | $3,214 | 83.1% | 97.2% | 2.8% |
| Pacific Heights | 1.72 | 38.8 | 2.5% | 71.0% | 16.4% | 1940 | $3,074 | 84.3% | 97.4% | 4.4% |
| Marina-San Francisco | 1.90 | 32.0 | 3.1% | 71.5% | 16.3% | 1941 | $3,147 | 83.8% | 96.7% | 2.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Byberry, Philadelphia, PA · Arden Heights, Staten Island, NY · Calallen, Corpus Christi, TX · Auburn Gresham, Chicago, IL · Buffalo, Las Vegas, NV · Bach, Ann Arbor, MI · Bagley, Detroit, MI · Ballantyne West, Charlotte, NC · Broadmoor-Anderson Isle-Shreve Isle, Shreveport, LA · Central District, Seattle, WA
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 North Beach. 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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