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Data on this report is based on areas within the legal city boundary, outlined in black on the map. Any additional neighborhoods shown on the map are associated with the city by name and are included for reference only.



San Francisco, CA Real Estate Market

Source & Methodology

Analytics built by:   Location, Inc.

Raw data sources:   American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Date(s) & Update Frequency:
  • Home Values, Rents: Reflects Q4 2023. Updated quarterly.
  • Setting, Housing Stock, Homeownership: 2022 (latest available). Updated annually.

Methodology:   NeighborhoodScout uses over 600 characteristics to build a neighborhood profile… Read more about Scout's Real Estate Data

San Francisco, CA Housing Market Trends

With 808,437 people, 360,842 houses or apartments, and a median cost of homes of $1,471,442, San Francisco house prices are not only among the most expensive in California, San Francisco real estate also is some of the most expensive in all of America.

Large apartment complexes or high rise apartments are the single most common housing type in San Francisco, accounting for 48.52% of the city's housing units. Other types of housing that are prevalent in San Francisco include duplexes, homes converted to apartments or other small apartment buildings ( 20.98%), single-family detached homes ( 18.45%), and a few row houses and other attached homes ( 11.85%). This particular housing mix is relatively uncommon and characteristic of cities that are compact and walkable, and which often have a lively downtown.

People in San Francisco primarily live in small (one, two or no bedroom) units, chiefly found in large apartment complexes or high rise apartments. San Francisco has a mixture of owner-occupied and renter-occupied housing.

The housing in San Francisco was primarily built before 1939 ( 45.85%), making the housing stock in San Francisco some of the oldest overall in America, although there is a range of ages of homes in San Francisco. The next most important housing age is between 1940-1969 ( 24.90%), followed by between 1970-1999 ( 16.51%). There's also some housing in San Francisco built between 2000 and later ( 12.75%).

Vacant housing appears to be an issue in San Francisco. Fully 11.60% of the housing stock is classified as vacant. Left unchecked, vacant San Francisco homes and apartments can be a drag on the real estate market, holding San Francisco real estate prices below levels they could achieve if vacant housing was absorbed into the market and became occupied. Housing vacancy rates are a useful measure to consider, along with other things, if you are a home buyer or a real estate investor.

San Francisco Home Appreciation Rates

San Francisco's appreciation rate notably has been below the national average for the last ten years. The average annual home appreciation rate in San Francisco during the period has been just 5.16%, which is lower than 70% of US communities.

Over the last year, San Francisco appreciation rates have trailed the rest of the nation. In the last twelve months, San Francisco's appreciation rate has been 0.57%, which is lower than appreciation rates in most communities in America. In the latest quarter, NeighborhoodScout's data show that house appreciation rates in San Francisco were at -0.62%, which equates to an annual appreciation rate of -2.46%.

Relative to California, our data show that San Francisco's latest annual appreciation rate is lower than 60% of the other cities and towns in California.

One very important thing to keep in mind is that these are average appreciation rates for the city. Individual neighborhoods within San Francisco differ in their investment potential, sometimes by a great deal. Fortunately, you can use NeighborhoodScout to pinpoint the exact neighborhoods in San Francisco - or in any city or town - that have the best track record of real estate appreciation, by the latest quarter, the last year, 2 years, 5 years, 10 years, or even since 2000, to assist you in making the best San Francisco real estate investment or home purchase decisions.

Average Home Values

Median Home Value

$1,471,442

San Francisco, CA Home Prices
> $1,041,000
$781,001 - $1,041,000
$521,001 - $781,000
$417,001 - $521,000
$312,001 - $417,000
$208,001 - $312,000
$104,001 - $208,000
$52,001 - $104,000
$0 - $52,000
73.9%
73.9%
13.0%
13.0%
5.7%
5.7%
1.9%
1.9%
1.9%
1.9%
1.2%
1.2%
1.1%
1.1%
0.2%
0.2%
1.2%
1.2%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes
Very High

for California

Very High

for nation

Number of Homes And Apartments:

360,842

San Francisco Appreciation Rates

Rent & Ownership

Average Market Rent:

$3,788 / per month

Homeownership Rate

Owners
Renters
37.5%
37.5%
62.5%
62.5%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Vacancy Rate

Vacant
Occupied
11.6%
11.6%
88.4%
88.4%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Housing Market Details

Age of Homes

2000 or Newer
1970 - 1999
1940 - 1969
1939 or Older
12.7%
12.7%
16.5%
16.5%
24.9%
24.9%
45.8%
45.8%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Types of Homes

Single-Family
Townhomes
Small Apt. Buildings
Apt. Complexes
Mobile Homes
Other
18.5%
18.5%
11.8%
11.8%
21.0%
21.0%
48.5%
48.5%
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Home Size

No Bedroom
1 Bedroom
2 Bedrooms
3 Bedrooms
4 Bedrooms
5 or more bedrooms
15.4%
15.4%
25.4%
25.4%
29.7%
29.7%
19.6%
19.6%
7.2%
7.2%
2.7%
2.7%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes