Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Francisco, CA
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 West Palm Beach leads 14 of 22 categories
San Francisco
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $72,645 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 90°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.4%)
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)
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Homes cost $1024k less ($324,800 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $702/mo less ($1,614 vs $2,316)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 59°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Smaller class sizes — 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $72,645/yr
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Francisco
Median Income
$72,645
$136,689 vs $64,044/yr
San Francisco
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
West Palm Beach
Violent Crime
3% lower
575.8 vs 596.5 per 100k
West Palm Beach
Median Home Value
$1024k less
$324,800 vs $1,348,700
West Palm Beach
Summer Heat
28.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 61.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 117.1⚠ High | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,348,700⚠ High | $324,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,316⚠ High | $1,614⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,689 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.8 min⚠ High | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.4% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 187⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.0:1 | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.8% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Francisco Unified | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 61.8°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.0" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 851,036 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 39.3 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.6% | 49.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | 17.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Francisco's cost of living index is 117.1 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
West Palm Beach is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, West Palm Beach leads 14 of 22 categories. San Francisco wins 8 and West Palm Beach wins 14. 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,348,700 vs $324,800 median home), income ($136,689 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Francisco, CA and West Palm Beach, FL are about 2,595 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.