San Francisco County, California Demographics 2026

Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology

San Francisco County, California has a population of 830,235, the 13th most populous county in California. The median household income is $140,970 and the median home value is $1,394,500. The poverty rate is 11.2%.

San Francisco County Quick Facts

Population 830,235

Median Household Income $140,97090% MOE ±$2,593

Median Home Value $1,394,50090% MOE ±$20,642

Poverty Rate 11.2%90% MOE ±0.4 pts

Unemployment Rate 6.1%90% MOE ±0.3 pts

Median Age 40.0 years90% MOE ±0.1 years

Homeownership Rate 38.2%90% MOE ±0.6 pts

Affordability Ratio 9.9x

Bachelor's Degree+ 60.3%90% MOE ±0.8 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 89.0%

Cities/Places 1

Population 830,235 13th of 58

Median Income $140,970 42% higher than state

Poverty Rate 11.2%

Unemployment 6.1%

How San Francisco County Changed

Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.

Metric	2015–2019	2020–2024	Change
Population	874,961	830,235	-5.1%
Median household income	$138,392	$140,970	No clear change (+1.9%)
Median home value¹	$1,351,071	$1,394,500	+3.2%
Median gross rent	$2,332	$2,476	+6.2%

¹ The Census Bureau changed its home-value inflation adjustment beginning with the 2022 ACS; interpret that comparison with additional caution.

Median Household Income

San Francisco

$140,970

$99,122

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

San Francisco

$1,394,500

$734,700

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 13.7%

$25K-$50K 9.2%

$50K-$100K 16.0%

$100K+ 61.2%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

4.7%

$10K-$15K

4.2%

$15K-$20K

2.5%

$20K-$25K

2.2%

$25K-$30K

1.9%

$30K-$35K

2.1%

$35K-$40K

1.4%

$40K-$45K

1.9%

$45K-$50K

1.9%

$50K-$60K

3.0%

$60K-$75K

4.9%

$75K-$100K

8.1%

$100K-$125K

7.4%

$125K-$150K

6.1%

$150K-$200K

11.2%

$200K+

36.4%

Employment

6.1% Unemployment Rate State: 6.6%|National: 5.2%

69.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 38.2%

Renter 61.8%

Affordability Index Very Expensive

9.9x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $2,476/mo 21.1% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

13.7%

18-34

27.2%

35-54

29.5%

55-74

21.9%

75+

7.7%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very High Diversity

This community is exceptionally diverse, with no single racial or ethnic group dominating the population.

State average: 70 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in San Francisco County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
San Francisco	830,235	$140,970	11.2%	$1,394,500

Explore California Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

San Francisco County is located in California with a total population of 830,235. It is the 13th most populous county out of 58 in California. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in San Francisco County is 40.0 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. Only 13.7% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in San Francisco County is $140,970. This is 42% higher than the state median of $99,122. It is also 75% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.2%. This is 7% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 6.1%. This is 8% lower than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $1,394,500. Housing costs are 90% higher than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 9.9x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 38.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 32% lower than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

San Francisco County is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Asian residents account for 34.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (16.2%) is well below the state average of 40.2%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (34.9% vs 15.3%).

Education

60.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places San Francisco County in the top 10% of all counties in the state for educational attainment. This is 63% higher than the state rate of 37.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.0%. Notably, 25.4% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for San Francisco County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against California and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of San Francisco County, California?

San Francisco County has a population of 830,235, making it the 13th most populous county in California.

What is the median income in San Francisco County?

The median household income in San Francisco County is $140,970 with a poverty rate of 11.2%.

How many cities are in San Francisco County, California?

San Francisco County contains 1 Census-designated place.