The San Francisco metro area: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo counties · Population 4,645,029 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in the San Francisco area
Household size in the San Francisco area
| Period | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.74 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.79 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.83 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.75 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in the San Francisco area average 2.75 people, a bit above the national 2.65, so families with children are somewhat more common here. Still, the typical household here is smaller than in California overall, where it has 3.01 people. Households are largest in the southeast and smallest 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 the San Francisco area
| Period | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.4 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.1 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.3 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.7 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
At 41.3, the median age in the San Francisco area is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is older than in California overall, where the median age is 39.0. The median age has climbed from 38.6 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 the San Francisco area
| Period | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.1% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in twelve households in the San Francisco area (8.8%), below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 1.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 100 large U.S. metro areas, only three have a lower share of single-parent households.
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 the San Francisco area
Renters in the San Francisco area
| Period | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.7% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 46.2% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 45.3% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 44.5% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is more common in the San Francisco area than nationally: 44.5% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Among homeowners, 32.4% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 0.8 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of the 100 large U.S. metro areas, only four have 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 the San Francisco area
| Period | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.1% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.5% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in the San Francisco area: 7.5% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. California comes in at about the same level. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.1 points, in line with the national trend.
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 the San Francisco area
| Period | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1964 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1965 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1968 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The San Francisco area is a place of older homes: half were built before 1968, 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 1964 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the east, the oldest in the west.
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 the San Francisco area
| Period | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,452 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,551 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,139 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,666 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,214 | +$931 | +$606 |
Rent in the San Francisco area runs $2,666 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,214 a month from 2006–10, an 84% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 31.4% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Only one other large metro area has higher rents.
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 the San Francisco area
Bachelor's degrees in the San Francisco area
| Period | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 44.1% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 48.9% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 52.2% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.7 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in the San Francisco area: 52.2% 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. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 9.7 points, mirroring the country. Only three of the 100 large U.S. metro areas have a higher 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 the San Francisco area
| Period | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.8% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.8% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in the San Francisco area is close to the national rate: 89.1% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is higher than in California overall (84.2%). The share with a diploma has risen 2.3 points since 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 the San Francisco area
| Period | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.6% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.8%, unemployment in the San Francisco area is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is lower than in California overall (6.6%). Unemployment is down 2.0 points from 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).
Largest cities in the San Francisco area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco area (all) | 2.75 | 41.3 | 8.8% | 44.5% | 7.5% | 1968 | $2,666 | 52.2% | 89.1% | 5.8% |
| Oakland | 2.62 | 38.7 | 12.8% | 57.9% | 8.1% | 1958 | $2,124 | 45.9% | 82.9% | 6.5% |
| Fremont | 2.92 | 40.4 | 6.1% | 39.4% | 5.9% | 1980 | $3,066 | 64.2% | 93.0% | 4.5% |
| Hayward | 3.24 | 39.5 | 10.6% | 43.1% | 5.9% | 1972 | $2,573 | 31.9% | 80.4% | 6.2% |
| Berkeley | 2.33 | 37.5 | 5.4% | 53.4% | 13.2% | 1953 | $2,378 | 74.8% | 96.1% | 5.9% |
| Concord | 2.69 | 40.7 | 9.6% | 38.5% | 4.2% | 1969 | $2,483 | 37.5% | 87.3% | 5.4% |
| Antioch | 3.13 | 39.5 | 16.4% | 36.9% | 4.3% | 1984 | $2,625 | 24.0% | 85.1% | 7.5% |
| Daly City | 3.22 | 42.8 | 8.3% | 41.2% | 10.1% | 1964 | $2,773 | 38.4% | 88.3% | 5.2% |
| San Mateo | 2.69 | 39.2 | 8.9% | 49.4% | 7.4% | 1966 | $3,100 | 56.6% | 90.0% | 4.6% |
| Redwood City | 2.78 | 39.7 | 8.3% | 48.1% | 7.1% | 1970 | $3,033 | 55.4% | 87.4% | 4.3% |
| San Leandro | 2.93 | 43.1 | 9.9% | 41.8% | 5.7% | 1960 | $2,366 | 33.6% | 82.2% | 5.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: San Diego area · Minneapolis area · Seattle area · Detroit area · Riverside area · Phoenix area · Boston area · Atlanta area · Miami area · Philadelphia area
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 the San Francisco area. 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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