Ithaca, NY 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.
San Francisco
62.9
#1817 nationally
San Francisco leads in median household income ($136,689 vs $45,468). Ithaca leads in average commute (18.4 min vs 33.4 min). Ithaca leads in cost of living index (117 vs 195).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Ithaca, NY | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 32,724 | 808,437 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $0 | $1,416,278 |
| Median Household Income | $45,468 | $136,689 |
| Average Commute | 18.4 min | 33.4 min |
| Walk Score | 72 | 89 |
| Crime Level | 5.4 | Moderate-High |
| School Rating | N/A | 6.5 |
| Cost of Living Index | 117 | 195 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+50.6 | D+64.8 |
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Score
Ithaca, NY
Small New York city with local appeal
Population
32,724
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
72
Median Income
$45,468
Northeast
View Ithaca, NY →
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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