Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Francisco, CA
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 15 of 21 categories
San Francisco
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Sunnyvale
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Rent averages $674/mo less ($2,316 vs $2,990)
Homes cost $332k less ($1,348,700 vs $1,680,700)
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 77°F
Cons
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $37,817/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 117.1)
Property crime (3929.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
59% less violent crime than San Francisco
Households earn $37,817 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.1%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Francisco
Median Home Value
$332k less
$1,348,700 vs $1,680,700
Sunnyvale
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 112.9 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$37,817
$174,506 vs $136,689/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
59% lower
244.5 vs 596.5 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.4% unemployment
Sunnyvale
Summer Heat
15.1°F warmer
July avg high 76.9°F vs 61.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 117.1⚠ High | 112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,348,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,316⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,689 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.8 min⚠ High | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.4% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 187⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.8% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Francisco Unified | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 61.8°F | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.0" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 851,036 ✓ Larger | 154,573 |
| Median Age | 39.3 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.6% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | 19.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Francisco's cost of living index is 117.1 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Sunnyvale is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 15 of 21 categories. San Francisco wins 6 and Sunnyvale wins 15. 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,348,700 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($136,689 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Francisco, CA and Sunnyvale, CA are about 60 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.