Population 830,235 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in San Francisco County
Household size in San Francisco County
| Period | San Francisco County | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.44 | 2.74 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.45 | 2.79 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.49 | 2.83 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.33 | 2.75 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | +0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in San Francisco County are small: just 2.33 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.44, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of California's 58 counties, only five 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 San Francisco County
| Period | San Francisco County | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.2 | 38.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.8 | 39.4 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.6 | 40.1 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.4 | 41.3 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.2 | +2.7 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
At 41.4, the median age in San Francisco County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.2, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the east and oldest in the west.
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 San Francisco County
| Period | San Francisco County | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.3% | 10.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.0% | 9.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.2% | 9.1% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.6% | 8.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.6% of households in San Francisco County, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 0.6 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only two of California's 58 counties 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 San Francisco County
Renters in San Francisco County
| Period | San Francisco County | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 62.5% | 43.7% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 63.4% | 46.2% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 62.4% | 45.3% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 61.8% | 44.5% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in San Francisco County: 61.8% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among homeowners, 37.0% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share has edged down 0.7 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose. No other California county 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 San Francisco County
| Period | San Francisco County | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.3% | 8.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 7.1% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.0% | 6.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.6% | 7.5% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs a little high in San Francisco County: 11.6% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged up 1.3 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 San Francisco County
| Period | San Francisco County | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1949 | 1964 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1950 | 1965 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1951 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1955 | 1968 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in San Francisco County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1955, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1949 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the east, while the northwest has the oldest housing. San Francisco County has the oldest homes of any California county.
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 San Francisco County
| Period | San Francisco County | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,402 | $1,452 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,529 | $1,551 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,029 | $2,139 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,584 | $2,666 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,182 | +$1,214 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in San Francisco County pays $2,584 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,182 a month from 2006–10, an 84% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 27.2% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northeast; the highest are in the center.
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 San Francisco County
Bachelor's degrees in San Francisco County
| Period | San Francisco County | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 50.6% | 42.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 52.5% | 44.1% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 57.6% | 48.9% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 59.8% | 52.2% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.2 pts | +9.7 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in San Francisco County: 59.8% 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 9.2 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only one other California county has 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 San Francisco County
| Period | San Francisco County | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.0% | 86.8% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.5% | 87.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.4% | 88.8% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.8% | 89.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in San Francisco County have finished high school as nationally: 88.8%, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 2.8 points, 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 San Francisco County
| Period | San Francisco County | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.4% | 7.8% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 8.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 4.6% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 5.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs a little high in San Francisco County: 6.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 1.0 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. 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).
San Francisco County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco County | 2.33 | 41.4 | 6.6% | 61.8% | 11.6% | 1955 | $2,584 | 59.8% | 88.8% | 6.4% |
| Alameda County | 2.81 | 40.0 | 9.2% | 45.6% | 7.0% | 1969 | $2,582 | 52.0% | 88.4% | 5.4% |
| Stanislaus County | 3.20 | 35.5 | 14.8% | 38.8% | 5.3% | 1981 | $1,709 | 19.1% | 79.4% | 8.0% |
| Mono County | 2.33 | 44.7 | 13.9% | 34.6% | 44.6% | 1980 | $1,484 | 35.2% | 91.4% | 4.0% |
| Esmeralda County | 2.03 | 55.0 | 11.4% | 39.2% | 27.1% | 1986 | $1,320 | 21.1% | 83.2% | 0.6% |
| Lincoln County | 2.43 | 42.4 | 10.9% | 25.0% | 29.3% | 1978 | $853 | 21.2% | 94.7% | 1.7% |
| Iron County | 3.06 | 32.4 | 9.3% | 31.7% | 10.5% | 1996 | $1,393 | 31.3% | 92.9% | 3.8% |
| Garfield County | 2.46 | 40.0 | 5.0% | 29.7% | 30.3% | 1979 | $1,050 | 28.4% | 95.4% | 4.0% |
| Dolores County | 1.95 | 53.0 | 6.5% | 18.7% | 17.6% | 1978 | $1,116 | 27.3% | 95.8% | 2.4% |
| San Juan County | 1.81 | 37.5 | 6.3% | 47.1% | 45.9% | 1979 | $992 | 52.1% | 100.0% | 9.4% |
| Mineral County | 1.88 | 56.4 | 1.0% | 30.3% | 67.3% | 1985 | $928 | 51.7% | 98.4% | 9.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Denton County, TX · Erie County, NY · Prince George's County, MD · Fairfield County, CT · Pierce County, WA · Gwinnett County, GA · Kern County, CA · Bergen County, NJ · Ventura County, CA · Snohomish County, 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 San Francisco County. 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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