San Francisco city, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

San Francisco city is a major urban center located in California. The total population is 836,321. It ranks as the 4th most populous out of 1,577 cities and towns in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in San Francisco city is 39.7 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 37.6 years. Only 13.7% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in San Francisco city is $141,446. This is 47% higher than the state median of $96,334. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 80% higher. The poverty rate stands at 10.6%. This is 12% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.6%. This is 12% lower than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $1,380,500. Housing costs are 99% higher than the state median of $695,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 9.8x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 38.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 31% lower than the state average of 55.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

San Francisco city is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Asian residents account for 34.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population (15.9%) is well below the state average of 39.8%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (34.7% vs 15.0%).

Education

60.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 65% higher than the state rate of 36.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.8%. Notably, 25.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for San Francisco city, California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,577 Census-designated places in California. For official data, visit data.census.gov.