Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Francisco, CA
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Washington leads 13 of 23 categories
San Francisco
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Washington
District of Columbia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,722
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Francisco, CA
Pros
36% less violent crime than Washington
Households earn $34,967 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 90°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 45°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 117.1)
Washington, DC
Pros
Homes cost $644k less ($705,000 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $499/mo less ($1,817 vs $2,316)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $34,967/yr
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Francisco
Median Income
$34,967
$136,689 vs $101,722/yr
San Francisco
Violent Crime
36% lower
596.5 vs 925.9 per 100k
San Francisco
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Washington
Median Home Value
$644k less
$705,000 vs $1,348,700
Washington
Summer Heat
28.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.8°F vs 61.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 117.1⚠ High | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,348,700⚠ High | $705,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,316⚠ High | $1,817⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,689 ✓ Higher | $101,722 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.8 min⚠ High | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.4% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 187⚠ High | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.0:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.8% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Francisco Unified | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 61.8°F | 89.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.0" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 851,036 ✓ Larger | 670,587 |
| Median Age | 39.3 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.6% | 41.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | 18.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Francisco's cost of living index is 117.1 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Washington is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Washington leads 13 of 23 categories. San Francisco wins 10 and Washington wins 13. 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,348,700 vs $705,000 median home), income ($136,689 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Francisco, CA and Washington, DC are about 2,469 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.