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Living in
South San Francisco.
About
Life in South San Francisco
South San Francisco sits between San Bruno Mountain and the bay, and it's best known these days as a hub for the biotech industry that grew up along its eastern shore. For residents, the pitch is location: San Francisco International Airport is about 3 miles away, and Millbrae, San Bruno and Burlingame are all within 5 miles. That access isn't cheap.
South San Francisco at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
43.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.7%
Foreign-Born
40.2%
Broadband Internet
95.6%
of households
Population Growth
-1.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics40.2% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in South San Francisco: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In South San Francisco, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (30.5%), and 20.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
17.2%
of residents
65 and Older
19.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
21.3%
of households
Married Couples
52.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.90
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 38% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in South San Francisco
In South San Francisco, rent runs 38% above the CA average, and home values are 62% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
115.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$7,283
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
59.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1965
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,216,286 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.7 pts below CA average
Unemployment in South San Francisco and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in South San Francisco is 1.7 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What South San Francisco Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA metro area
Commute25.6 min avg
How South San Francisco residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In South San Francisco, most residents drive alone to work (61%), and 63% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Major hub26.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 6% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in South San Francisco runs 6% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
309.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,236.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
South San Francisco Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 15 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
99.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
San Mateo County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In San Mateo County, which includes South San Francisco, the most common type is strong wind, with 15 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | Flood | $10 |
| 2024 | 14 | Flood | $30 |
| 2023 | 15 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 11 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 21 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 25 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 42 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 23 | Strong Wind | $10,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
285 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
San Mateo County, county-wide
Air Quality27 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2024)
Air quality in San Mateo County, which includes South San Francisco, is typically good — 281 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
27
Good Days
281
per year
Moderate Days
38
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
San Mateo County, county-wide
Climate73°F summers, 45°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
South San Francisco has mild summers (avg high 73°F) and warm winters (avg low 45°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
66°/49°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
73°/55°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
70°/53°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
59°/45°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
19.6"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
4
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
65
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°F | 45°F | 3.89" |
| Feb | 61°F | 46°F | 3.96" |
| Mar | 63°F | 48°F | 2.73" |
| Apr | 66°F | 49°F | 1.36" |
| May | 68°F | 52°F | 0.48" |
| Jun | 72°F | 54°F | 0.14" |
| Jul | 73°F | 55°F | 0.00" |
| Aug | 73°F | 56°F | 0.04" |
| Sep | 75°F | 56°F | 0.07" |
| Oct | 72°F | 53°F | 0.79" |
| Nov | 64°F | 49°F | 2.04" |
| Dec | 58°F | 45°F | 4.14" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in South San Francisco
Uninsured
3.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside South San Francisco's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Peninsula Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.6 mi away · Burlingame
Jewish Home & Rehab Center
Psychiatric · 7.1 mi away · San Francisco
Ahmc Seton Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.3 mi away · Daly City
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education18.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in South San Francisco
South San Francisco's student/teacher ratio is 18.6:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 40.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
13
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
40.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near South San Francisco (within 15 miles)
San Francisco State University
8.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 18,639 students · in-state tuition $8,324 · 67% graduate · median earnings $73,299 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 7,977 students · in-state tuition $1,332 · 30% graduate · median earnings $60,507 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 7,620 students · in-state tuition $1,332 · 27% graduate · median earnings $62,578 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 6,842 students · in-state tuition $1,258 · 20% graduate · median earnings $42,812 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,287 students · in-state tuition $62,462 · 75% graduate · median earnings $94,613 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 4,487 students · in-state tuition $1,258 · 21% graduate · median earnings $47,627 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Presidio of San Francisco, 12 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for South San Francisco
South San Francisco has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Presidio of San Francisco (12 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Presidio of San Francisco
National Park Site
12 mi awaySan Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
12 mi awayAlcatraz Island
National Park Site
13 mi awayFort Point National Historic Site
National Historic Site
13 mi awayRosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
18 mi awayGolden Gate National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
20 mi awayEugene O'Neill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
21 mi awayMuir Woods National Monument
National Monument
21 mi awayPublic Libraries in South San Francisco
South San Francisco Main Library
840 W. Orange Ave., South San Francisco
Gene Mullin Community Learning Center
520 Tamarack Lane, South San Francisco
Grand Avenue Library
306 Walnut Ave., South San Francisco
Cities Near South San Francisco
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to South San Francisco?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
South San Francisco FAQ
Is South San Francisco, California affordable?⌄
South San Francisco's median rent is $2,802/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $136,578/year. Median home value is $1,188,800.
Is South San Francisco, California safe?⌄
South San Francisco's violent crime rate was 309 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1237 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in South San Francisco, California?⌄
South San Francisco has an unemployment rate of 3.8%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in South San Francisco, California?⌄
The cost of living in South San Francisco is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,802/month and median household income is $136,578/year. The median home value is $1,188,800. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in South San Francisco, California?⌄
The average commute in South San Francisco is 26 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from