Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Francisco, CA
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Sparks leads 12 of 23 categories
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
Sparks
Nevada
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,938
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $53,751 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 92°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 48°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)
Sparks, NV
Pros
Homes cost $925k less ($423,500 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $790/mo less ($1,526 vs $2,316)
34% less violent crime than San Francisco
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Smaller class sizes — 19.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $53,751/yr
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
San Francisco
Median Income
$53,751
$136,689 vs $82,938/yr
San Francisco
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Sparks
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 103.2 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Sparks
Violent Crime
34% lower
394.4 vs 596.5 per 100k
Sparks
Median Home Value
$925k less
$423,500 vs $1,348,700
Sparks
Summer Heat
30.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 61.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 117.1⚠ High | 103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,348,700⚠ High | $423,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,316⚠ High | $1,526⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,689 ✓ Higher | $82,938 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.8 min⚠ High | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.4% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 187⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.0:1 | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.8% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 85.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Francisco Unified | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 61.8°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.0" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 851,036 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 39.3 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.6% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 15.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Francisco's cost of living index is 117.1 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Sparks is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sparks leads 12 of 23 categories. San Francisco wins 11 and Sparks 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 San Francisco to Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,348,700 vs $423,500 median home), income ($136,689 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Francisco, CA and Sparks, NV are about 220 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.