RANK #366 / 996 · POP 851,036 · CA
PROJECTED GROWTH: +1.3%
San Francisco County, a consolidated city-county, is renowned for its iconic Golden Gate Bridge, a landmark that defines its northern edge and offers views of the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. The city itself is a dense urban environment, characterized by its distinctive hills and diverse neighborhoods, each with its own character. Commuting within the city is often done via an extensive public transportation network, including Muni buses and metro, cable cars, and streetcars, with many residents opting for walking or biking. Outdoor recreation is easily accessible, with Golden Gate Park offering over 1,000 acres of green space, beaches like Ocean Beach and Baker Beach, and numerous urban trails such as Lands End Trail and those in Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve.
Life in San Francisco County offers a high quality of life, attracting many young professionals. The economy is driven by innovation, with the area being a global hub for technology and a significant center for artificial intelligence. While the cost of living, particularly housing, is high, the median income is also elevated. The San Francisco Unified School District serves the county's students, and there are also numerous private and religious schools. The city's economic landscape is seeing ongoing investment in commercial and residential development, with efforts to adapt to evolving work trends.
Above national median (4.7x)
Well below national median
Speculative pricing
Housing is fairly valued at 4.9x relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
City and County of San Francisco Capital Plan (Various Infrastructure Projects)
City and County of San Francisco
|
$52,100M | Planned |
|
Novva San Francisco Campus
Novva Data Centers
|
$500M | Under Construction |
|
Cormorant Energy Storage Project
Arevon
|
$250M | Under Construction |
|
Affordable Housing Investments
Citizens Bank and various developers
|
$125M | Completed/Ongoing |
|
San Francisco Bay Solar & Storage Portfolio (2 projects)
BREG - PVN
|
$50M | Under Development |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
San Francisco County has a Boom Town Index score of 63/100, ranking #366 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at -2.2% and a median household income of $136,689, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in San Francisco County is $1,348,700 with median rent at $2,316/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.1013, which is less affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -1.7% year-over-year. Job growth: -2.2%. Home values changed +4.0% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 3.8% of San Francisco County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.