Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Green Bay, WI
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 Green Bay leads 12 of 23 categories
Green Bay
Wisconsin
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,174
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,846
San Francisco
California
11
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.
Green Bay, WI
Pros
Homes cost $1176k less ($172,700 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $1452/mo less ($864 vs $2,316)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
17% less violent crime than San Francisco
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.1%)
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $77,515/yr
Violent crime (495.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $77,515 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 25°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 80°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Green Bay
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Green Bay
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Green Bay
Violent Crime
17% lower
495.1 vs 596.5 per 100k
Green Bay
Median Home Value
$1176k less
$172,700 vs $1,348,700
Green Bay
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.4% unemployment
Green Bay
Summer Heat
18.0°F warmer
July avg high 79.8°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$77,515
$136,689 vs $59,174/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Green Bay, WI | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $864 ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,174 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.0 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 62 ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.1% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Green Bay Area Public School District | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 24.5°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 79.8°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.2" | 30.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,846 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.2% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Green Bay's cost of living index is 92.1 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Green Bay is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Green Bay leads 12 of 23 categories. Green Bay wins 12 and San Francisco wins 11. 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 Green Bay to San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($59,174 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Green Bay, WI and San Francisco, CA are about 1,868 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.