Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kenosha, WI
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 Kenosha leads 12 of 22 categories
Kenosha
Wisconsin
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,963
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
99,493
San Francisco
California
10
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.
Kenosha, WI
Pros
Homes cost $1154k less ($194,400 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $1237/mo less ($1,079 vs $2,316)
52% less violent crime than San Francisco
15% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $71,726/yr
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $71,726 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 31°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 84°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 117.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kenosha
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Kenosha
Violent Crime
52% lower
285.7 vs 596.5 per 100k
Kenosha
Median Home Value
$1154k less
$194,400 vs $1,348,700
Kenosha
Summer Heat
22.0°F warmer
July avg high 83.8°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$71,726
$136,689 vs $64,963/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kenosha, WI | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $194,400 ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,079 ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,963 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.4% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 62 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.5% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kenosha School District | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.3°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 30.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,493 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.7% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kenosha's cost of living index is 102.6 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Kenosha is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kenosha leads 12 of 22 categories. Kenosha wins 12 and San Francisco wins 10. 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 Kenosha to San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($194,400 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($64,963 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kenosha, WI and San Francisco, CA are about 1,873 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.