What it's like to live in San Bruno
San Bruno is a small city in California with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. San Bruno deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, a population that has been shrinking, and larger class sizes than the national average.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Shrinking population
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
How San Bruno compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to San Bruno
Based on San Bruno's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$5,546
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $110,920 a year
- 51% of San Bruno renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$241,500
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $120,750
- Homes cost 8.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 96% above US
$2,773/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,773 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $1,207,500. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $1,207,500 · 51% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.1% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.1%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 42% below US
192 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1478/100k · San Bruno Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.7 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 18% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 70°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 46°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 26% above US
45% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 45% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
7 public schools inside the boundary
There are 7 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 23:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Presidio of San Francisco (12 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
San Bruno's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($2,773/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (18% of workers here already work from home), and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near San Bruno
All California guides →Moving to Burlingame →
4 mi away · pop. 30,525
Rent $2,785/mo · Income $174,000
Compare with San Bruno →Moving to Daly City →
5 mi away · pop. 101,964
Rent $2,551/mo · Income $123,547
Compare with San Bruno →Not sure San Bruno is the one?
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