Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 San Francisco leads 12 of 22 categories
Compton
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
San Francisco
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Compton, CA
Pros
Homes cost $859k less ($489,400 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $852/mo less ($1,464 vs $2,316)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 59°F
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $66,961/yr
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3145.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $66,961 more per year on average
53% less violent crime than Compton
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 77°F
Smaller class sizes — 21.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
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)
Key Differences at a Glance
Compton
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Compton
Median Home Value
$859k less
$489,400 vs $1,348,700
Compton
Summer Heat
15.4°F warmer
July avg high 77.2°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$66,961
$136,689 vs $69,728/yr
San Francisco
Violent Crime
53% lower
596.5 vs 1271.7 per 100k
San Francisco
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, 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 | $489,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 21.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 30.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Compton is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Francisco leads 12 of 22 categories. Compton wins 10 and San Francisco wins 12. 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 Compton to San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($69,728 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and San Francisco, CA are about 378 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.