METRO AREA · 1990 CENSUS

San Francisco Metro

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA · 5 counties · 3,686,592 residents · 2,469.802 sq mi

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The short version

San Francisco is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $40,631. Population has declined 11% since 2000. 32% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 20%. Median home value is $265,602.

At a glance

Wealthier

above the US median

US median: $30,130

Mid-age

median age 34.5

US median: 33.0

More educated

32% hold a bachelor's degree

US average: 20%

Stable housing

home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted

US median home: $93,722

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population

3,686,592

−11%vs 2000

vs 4,123,740 in 2000

1990 – 2025

Population density

1,493 / sq mi

−11%vs 2000

vs 1,670 / sq mi in 2000

US average: 221

Median age

34.5

−5%vs 2000

vs 36.1 in 2000

US average: 33.0

Population, 1990 – 2024

20244.6M

Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$40,631

−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $61,059 in 2000

US average: $30,130

1990 – 2024

Per capita income

$20,203

−36%vs 2000

vs $31,771 in 2000

US average: $14,340

Poverty rate

9.2%

+0.1 ptsvs 2000

vs 9.1% in 2000

US average: 13.2%

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$265,602

+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $346,943 in 2000

US average: $93,722

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$680

−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $946 in 2000

US average: $450

Owner-occupied

54.5%

−1.5 ptsvs 2000

vs 56.0% in 2000

45.5% rent

Afford Score

6.5

+15%vs 2000

vs 5.7 in 2000

1990 – 2024

RELATED:See current rent listings in San Francisco on RentDataNow

Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000

White, non-Hispanic49.1%(2,026,022)

Black9.4%(387,490)

Hispanic / Latino17.8%(733,249)

Asian19%(784,918)

Other0%

Diversity Score81.3%(3,351,096)

1990

White, non-Hispanic66.1%(2,435,097)

Black11.5%(425,141)

Hispanic / Latino13.4%(493,017)

Asian16.3%(599,635)

Other6.1%(226,719)

Diversity Score76.6%(2,823,818)

Diversity Score

−6%vs 2000

vs 81 in 2000

1990 – 2024

Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

32.0%

−6.5 ptsvs 2000

vs 38.5% in 2000

US average: 20.3%

High school or higher

83.0%

−1.2 ptsvs 2000

vs 84.2% in 2000

US average: 75.2%

Graduate degree

11.7%

−2.7 ptsvs 2000

vs 14.4% in 2000

US average: 7.1%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

26.2 min

+15%vs 2000

vs 22.9 min in 2000

US average: 21.9

Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

In this metro

Principal cities

San FranciscoCENTRAL826,079 OaklandCENTRAL440,838 FremontCENTRAL226,442 BerkeleyCENTRAL121,911 San MateoCENTRAL103,337 San RamonCENTRAL86,209 LivermoreCENTRAL83,457 Redwood CityCENTRAL82,178 PleasantonCENTRAL74,556 Walnut CreekCENTRAL70,012 South San FranciscoCENTRAL64,941 San RafaelCENTRAL59,410

What's inside

5 component counties

Alameda CountyCENTRAL1,636,630 Contra Costa County1,170,070 San Francisco CountyCENTRAL826,079 San Mateo CountyCENTRAL743,568 Marin CountyCENTRAL253,694

Drill deeper

Metros similar to San Francisco

Head to head

Compare San Francisco side by side

SAN FRANCISCO VS

Boston

Income$116,759+187%

Home value$656,837+147%

Population5,034,221+9%

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SAN FRANCISCO VS

Seattle

Income$116,172+186%

Home value$749,490+182%

Population4,161,883−10%

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SAN FRANCISCO VS

Washington

Income$130,074+220%

Home value$613,108+131%

Population6,465,724+40%

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SAN FRANCISCO VS

Riverside

Income$89,505+120%

Home value$532,724+101%

Population4,769,007+3%

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Frequently asked

How many people live in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA has about 3,686,592 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?

The typical household in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA earns about $40,631 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA expensive?

In San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, the median home is worth about $265,602, and the typical rent is about $680 a month.

How educated are people in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?

About 32.0% of adults age 25 and over in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?

About 9.2% of people in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA live below the federal poverty line.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →