Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anaheim, CA
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 Anaheim leads 12 of 21 categories
Anaheim
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,538
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
347,111
San Francisco
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anaheim, CA
Pros
Homes cost $635k less ($713,600 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $358/mo less ($1,958 vs $2,316)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 59°F
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $48,151/yr
Violent crime (596.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $48,151 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 87°F
Smaller class sizes — 21.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 117.1)
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Anaheim
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Anaheim
Median Home Value
$635k less
$713,600 vs $1,348,700
Anaheim
Summer Heat
25.0°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$48,151
$136,689 vs $88,538/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anaheim, CA | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $713,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,958⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,538 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 21.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anaheim Elementary | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.0°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 30.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 347,111 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anaheim's cost of living index is 115.5 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Anaheim is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Anaheim leads 12 of 21 categories. Anaheim wins 12 and San Francisco wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Anaheim to San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($713,600 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($88,538 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anaheim, CA and San Francisco, CA are about 399 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.