Head-to-Head · City Comparison
High Point, NC
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 San Francisco leads 12 of 23 categories
High Point
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,582
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,120
San Francisco
California
12
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.
High Point, NC
Pros
Homes cost $1152k less ($196,500 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $1286/mo less ($1,030 vs $2,316)
24% less violent crime than San Francisco
24% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $78,107/yr
Violent crime (454.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2456.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.4%)
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $78,107 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 89°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 52°F
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
Cost of living runs 24% higher than High Point
Key Differences at a Glance
High Point
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
High Point
Violent Crime
24% lower
454.8 vs 596.5 per 100k
High Point
Median Home Value
$1152k less
$196,500 vs $1,348,700
High Point
Summer Heat
27.6°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$78,107
$136,689 vs $58,582/yr
San Francisco
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | High Point, NC | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $196,500 ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,030 ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,582 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.3" | 30.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,120 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.1% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
High Point's cost of living index is 92.7 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
High Point is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Francisco leads 12 of 23 categories. High Point wins 11 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 High Point to San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,500 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($58,582 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
High Point, NC and San Francisco, CA are about 2,361 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.