San Francisco, CA

This gorgeous city has a bold personality – perhaps as distinct as the Golden Gate Bridge it houses. This world-class city offers some of the greatest museums, top-notch restaurants, amazing green spaces, parks, and hiking trails. And, an enviable culinary scene.

The median listing home price in San Francisco is $1.3M. That’s $989 per square foot. The San Francisco housing market is a competitive one. Most homes on the market receive an average of two offers and sell in around 46 to 55 days. You can expect the average rent for an apartment to be $3,340. Of course, it depends on the location, neighborhood, size of the apartment, and its quality as well as maintenance.

The average size of an apartment is about 737 square feet. But, you can always find both affordable and upscale possibilities for your housing requirements. The smallest and the least expensive housing is a studio apartment. Two-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom apartments offer more square footage and may go as high as $5,145 in terms of monthly rent.

City highlights

Inspiring culture, top-notch dining options, gorgeous scenery, and incomparable landmarks are just a few of the fantastic things to do in San Francisco. Where else in the world would you find historic cable cars that still run, a gigantic orange bridge that connects San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean, and an island that was once a high-security prison?

The city even has unique annual events to its credit – from fantastic food festivals, and parades to outdoor concerts and wacky foot races. There’s never a dull moment in San Francisco.

Geographic location

San Francisco is on the northern tip of a peninsula situated between the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Bay. San Mateo is to its south, the Bay is to the east and northeast, and the Pacific Ocean is to the west and northwest. This cultural and financial center covers a land area of 46.9 square miles.

Climate

The city has a Mediterranean-type climate. It’s characterized by mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. The area and the climate support high biological diversity.

Demography

There are about 874,785 residents in San Francisco. And, the median age is 38.3. According to the 2020 census, the racial makeup of San Francisco includes 44.9% Whites, 34.3% Asians, 5.1% African Americans, 0.4% Native Americans, 0.4% Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, and 7.2% of other races.

It’s interesting to note that the San Francisco Bay Area, including Silicon Valley, is one of the wealthiest cities in the United States. There are about 276,400 rich individuals out of whom 12,890 are multi-millionaires.

Cost of Living

San Francisco is one of the most expensive cities to live in, in the U.S. The cost of living is 38% higher than the California average and 94% higher than the national average. The high cost of living is mainly due to expensive housing and utilities costs. One can expect an average household income of $165,408. It mostly ranges from $145,700 to $187,792.

Transportation

Walking and using public transportation are the best methods to get around San Francisco comfortably. Fortunately, most well-known sites are accessible by foot from the city center.

San Francisco’s bus and metro system, known as Muni, covers the entire city and runs streetcars, cable cars, buses, and trains.

The Golden City has a walk score of 88.7 and is considered one of the most walkable cities in the U.S. Most of the neighborhoods too are pedestrian-friendly.

Schools

There are 133 public schools and 114 private schools in San Francisco, CA. San Francisco schools have a good average ranking and are in the top 30% of all California public schools. Some top-rated schools include Lowell High School, Alamo Elementary School, and West Portal Elementary School. Some of the most reputable colleges include the University of San Francisco, San Francisco State University, the Academy of Art University, and California College of the Arts.

What is the city like?

Living in San Francisco, California, is fun. You can enjoy the stunning scenery, miles of hills, the salty sea air, the quaint, colorful residences, the bustling streets, and the artisan markets. Residents of San Francisco experience a vibrant cosmopolitan ambiance.

Additionally, there is always something new in San Francisco to do, try, taste, or experience. The City by the Bay, widely regarded as one of the best cities in America, offers amazing experiences, thrilling adventures, unique culture, and top-notch cuisine. S.F. has a lower crime rate than other large U.S. cities, but it does experience relatively high rates of property crimes such as theft and burglary. Despite this, San Francisco has high life satisfaction index scores and high life expectancies.

When in San Francisco, you must explore the famous Haight Ashbury, the historic cable cars, Alcatraz Island, and the ever-expanding downtown area.

Get more details about the City by the Bay here.