Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Francisco, CA
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 San Francisco leads 13 of 22 categories
San Francisco
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Tacoma
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $57,604 more per year on average
44% less violent crime than Tacoma
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 77°F
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)
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Homes cost $933k less ($415,300 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $827/mo less ($1,489 vs $2,316)
Smaller class sizes — 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $57,604/yr
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
San Francisco
Median Income
$57,604
$136,689 vs $79,085/yr
San Francisco
Violent Crime
44% lower
596.5 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Tacoma
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$933k less
$415,300 vs $1,348,700
Tacoma
Summer Heat
15.0°F warmer
July avg high 76.8°F vs 61.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 117.1⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,348,700⚠ High | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,316⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,689 ✓ Higher | $79,085 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.8 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.4% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 187⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.0:1 | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.8% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Francisco Unified | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 61.8°F | 76.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.0" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 851,036 ✓ Larger | 219,234 |
| Median Age | 39.3 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.6% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Francisco's cost of living index is 117.1 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Tacoma is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Francisco leads 13 of 22 categories. San Francisco wins 13 and Tacoma wins 9. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,348,700 vs $415,300 median home), income ($136,689 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Francisco, CA and Tacoma, WA are about 659 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.