Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Francisco, CA
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Yakima leads 12 of 23 categories
San Francisco
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $80,955 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 88°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 40°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)
Yakima, WA
Pros
Homes cost $1105k less ($243,300 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $1302/mo less ($1,014 vs $2,316)
9% less violent crime than San Francisco
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Smaller class sizes — 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $80,955/yr
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Francisco
Median Income
$80,955
$136,689 vs $55,734/yr
San Francisco
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Yakima
Violent Crime
9% lower
544.3 vs 596.5 per 100k
Yakima
Median Home Value
$1105k less
$243,300 vs $1,348,700
Yakima
Summer Heat
26.5°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 61.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 117.1⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,348,700⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,316⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,689 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.8 min⚠ High | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.4% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 187⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.0:1 | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.8% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Francisco Unified | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 61.8°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.0" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 851,036 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 39.3 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.6% | 53.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Francisco's cost of living index is 117.1 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Yakima is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yakima leads 12 of 23 categories. San Francisco wins 11 and Yakima wins 12. 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,348,700 vs $243,300 median home), income ($136,689 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Francisco, CA and Yakima, WA are about 625 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.