Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Francisco, CA
VS
Toledo, OH
🏆 San Francisco leads 14 of 23 categories
San Francisco
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Toledo
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $91,284 more per year on average
43% less violent crime than Toledo
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 34°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 85°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Toledo
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $1250k less ($98,800 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $1462/mo less ($854 vs $2,316)
27% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $91,284/yr
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Francisco
Median Income
$91,284
$136,689 vs $45,405/yr
San Francisco
Violent Crime
43% lower
596.5 vs 1041.1 per 100k
San Francisco
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.2% unemployment
Toledo
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 90.4 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Toledo
Median Home Value
$1250k less
$98,800 vs $1,348,700
Toledo
Summer Heat
22.8°F warmer
July avg high 84.6°F vs 61.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Toledo, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 117.1⚠ High | 90.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,348,700⚠ High | $98,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,316⚠ High | $854 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,689 ✓ Higher | $45,405 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.8 min⚠ High | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.4% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 187⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.0:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.8% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Francisco Unified | Toledo City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 61.8°F | 84.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.0" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 37.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 851,036 ✓ Larger | 269,962 |
| Median Age | 39.3 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.6% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Francisco's cost of living index is 117.1 vs Toledo's 90.4 (US average = 100).
Toledo is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Francisco leads 14 of 23 categories. San Francisco wins 14 and Toledo 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 Toledo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,348,700 vs $98,800 median home), income ($136,689 vs $45,405), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Francisco, CA and Toledo, OH are about 2,096 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.