Merced-McLaren
RANK #862 / 996 NAT · #28 / 43 CA · POP 851,036
1YR FORECAST: +6.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: +13%
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.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| 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.
The data is not encouraging — San Francisco County scores just 13/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #862 of 996 counties. Job growth at -2.2% and median household income of $136,689 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Affordability is a real challenge in San Francisco County. The median home is valued at $1,348,700 — with an income-to-home-value ratio of just 0.10, that's significantly harder to afford than in most U.S. counties. Median rent runs $2,316/month.
Both population (-1.7% YoY) and employment (-2.2%) are contracting in San Francisco County, though housing tells its own story with values moving +4.0% over the past 12 months. This is a county where the trend lines are pointing in the wrong direction.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.8% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests San Francisco County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.