Population 14,745 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in North Central San Francisco
Household size in North Central San Francisco
| Period | North Central San Francisco | San Mateo | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.57 | 2.57 | 2.74 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.80 | 2.68 | 2.79 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.74 | 2.76 | 2.83 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.06 | 2.69 | 2.75 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.49 | +0.12 | +0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
North Central San Francisco is a place of big households: 3.06 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.57, even as the national average fell. Only one other San Mateo neighborhood has larger 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 North Central San Francisco
| Period | North Central San Francisco | San Mateo | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.8 | 39.5 | 38.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.4 | 39.8 | 39.4 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.6 | 39.2 | 40.1 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 31.8 | 39.2 | 41.3 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | −6.0 | −0.3 | +2.7 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 31.8, North Central San Francisco is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young families with children. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 37.8, even as the national median rose. North Central San Francisco has the youngest population of any San Mateo neighborhood.
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 Central San Francisco
| Period | North Central San Francisco | San Mateo | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 6.9% | 10.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.4% | 8.3% | 9.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.3% | 7.9% | 9.1% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 17.5% | 8.9% | 8.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +9.7 pts | +2.0 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in six households in North Central San Francisco (17.5%), well above the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 9.7 points, even as the national share fell. North Central San Francisco has the highest share of single-parent households of any San Mateo 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 North Central San Francisco
Renters in North Central San Francisco
| Period | North Central San Francisco | San Mateo | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 60.2% | 44.1% | 43.7% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 66.7% | 46.3% | 46.2% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 61.1% | 44.8% | 45.3% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 65.5% | 49.4% | 44.5% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.3 pts | +5.2 pts | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in North Central San Francisco: 65.5% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among homeowners, 33.0% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 5.3 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other San Mateo neighborhood has a higher share of renters.
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 Central San Francisco
| Period | North Central San Francisco | San Mateo | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 6.9% | 8.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 4.4% | 5.5% | 7.1% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.0% | 6.7% | 6.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.0% | 7.4% | 7.5% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | +0.5 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in North Central San Francisco than nationally: 7.0%, against 9.6% for the U.S. That is in line with the rest of San Mateo.
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 Central San Francisco
| Period | North Central San Francisco | San Mateo | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1959 | 1962 | 1964 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1959 | 1963 | 1965 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1962 | 1964 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1962 | 1966 | 1968 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
North Central San Francisco is a place of older homes: half were built before 1962, 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 1959 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the northwest 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 Central San Francisco
| Period | North Central San Francisco | San Mateo | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,397 | $1,569 | $1,452 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,551 | $1,698 | $1,551 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,963 | $2,577 | $2,139 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,682 | $3,100 | $2,666 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,285 | +$1,531 | +$1,214 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in North Central San Francisco pays $2,682 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are lower than in San Mateo overall ($3,100). Rent has climbed $1,285 a month since 2006–10, up 92%, faster than rents rose nationally. North Central San Francisco has the lowest rents of any San Mateo neighborhood.
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 Central San Francisco
Bachelor's degrees in North Central San Francisco
| Period | North Central San Francisco | San Mateo | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.5% | 43.6% | 42.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 34.3% | 45.9% | 44.1% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 42.2% | 54.5% | 48.9% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 47.2% | 56.6% | 52.2% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.7 pts | +13.0 pts | +9.7 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
North Central San Francisco is highly educated: nearly half of adults 25 and older (47.2%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Locally, though, the share is lower than in San Mateo as a whole (56.6%). The share with a degree has risen 12.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only one other San Mateo neighborhood has a lower share of college graduates.
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 Central San Francisco
| Period | North Central San Francisco | San Mateo | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 80.0% | 88.6% | 86.8% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 78.7% | 89.2% | 87.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 79.5% | 90.0% | 88.8% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 82.9% | 90.0% | 89.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.9 pts | +1.4 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in six adults in North Central San Francisco never finished high school, well above the national share: only 82.9% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 2.9 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. North Central San Francisco has the lowest share of high school graduates of any San Mateo neighborhood.
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 Central San Francisco
| Period | North Central San Francisco | San Mateo | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 5.2% | 7.8% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.9% | 3.7% | 4.6% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.3% | 4.6% | 5.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.5 pts | −0.6 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in North Central San Francisco than nationally: unemployment was 4.3%, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.5 points, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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 Central San Francisco 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 Central San Francisco | 3.06 | 31.8 | 17.5% | 65.5% | 7.0% | 1962 | $2,682 | 47.2% | 82.9% | 4.3% |
| Downtown San Mateo | 2.13 | 41.1 | 9.7% | 52.1% | 9.7% | 1970 | $3,278 | 55.6% | 92.7% | 2.9% |
| Downtown Burlingame | 1.96 | 39.6 | 1.8% | 77.2% | 13.4% | 1966 | $2,516 | 61.9% | 92.8% | 7.4% |
| Baywood-Aragon | 2.36 | 42.8 | 6.5% | 45.0% | 10.8% | 1952 | $3,299 | 75.7% | 99.6% | 2.0% |
| East San Mateo | 3.23 | 41.0 | 5.8% | 30.1% | 3.4% | 1957 | $3,329 | 38.9% | 84.8% | 3.8% |
| Haywood Park | 2.36 | 40.0 | 5.2% | 52.7% | 6.1% | 1970 | $3,117 | 59.4% | 91.2% | 3.6% |
| Shoreview | 2.26 | 40.2 | 12.4% | 46.5% | 5.0% | 1973 | $3,241 | 63.6% | 91.3% | 1.1% |
| Burlingame Gate | 2.56 | 41.4 | 9.4% | 45.8% | 10.5% | 1947 | $2,674 | 66.0% | 94.0% | 8.8% |
| Beresford | 2.54 | 43.0 | 4.8% | 38.6% | 7.3% | 1964 | $3,110 | 66.8% | 95.2% | 6.9% |
| Hillsdale | 2.66 | 37.6 | 8.5% | 54.8% | 8.7% | 1975 | $3,148 | 60.7% | 93.3% | 5.3% |
| Marina Lagoon | 2.48 | 39.3 | 4.5% | 68.7% | 10.2% | 1980 | $3,294 | 61.1% | 90.8% | 8.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Four Corners, Antioch, TN · Chambersburg, Trenton, NJ · Cultural Corridor, Las Vegas, NV · Darlington, Pawtucket, RI · Detroit Shoreway, Cleveland, OH · Douglas, Chicago, IL · Downtown Fullerton, Fullerton, CA · Downtown Yonkers, Yonkers, NY · East Cambridge, Cambridge, MA · East Little York-Homestead, Houston, TX
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 Central San Francisco. 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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