Austin, TX vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Austin
68.3
#1322 nationally
San Francisco
62.9
#1817 nationally
San Francisco leads in walk score (89 vs 42). Austin leads in cost of living index (129 vs 195). San Francisco leads in median household income ($136,689 vs $91,461).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Austin, TX | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.3 (#1322) | 62.9 (#1817) |
| Population | 967,862 | 808,437 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $504,148 | $1,416,278 |
| Median Household Income | $91,461 | $136,689 |
| Average Commute | 26.8 min | 33.4 min |
| Walk Score | 42 | 89 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | Moderate-High |
| School Rating | 7.2 | 6.5 |
| Cost of Living Index | 129 | 195 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+39.3 | D+64.8 |
D+
68.3 Score
Austin, TX
Live music capital meets tech innovation
Median Home
$504,148
Population
967,862
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B
Southwest
View Austin, TX →
D-
62.9 Score
San Francisco, CA
Innovation capital on the bay
Median Home
$1,416,278
Population
808,437
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
B-
Pacific
View San Francisco, CA →
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