Retiring in San Francisco, CA

Retirement city profile: climate, cost of living, healthcare, safety and more

62°/46°

Climate (Summer/Winter)

$1,393,773

Housing (Typical Value)

596.5

Safety (Violent Crime/100,000)

Is San Francisco Right for Your Retirement?

With a reported population of 836,321, San Francisco offers a large-city setting for retirement planning. This profile brings its climate, housing, reported crime, healthcare access, walkability and natural hazard exposure into one view so you can evaluate the tradeoffs.

Potential Strengths

Low tornado risk
Low wildfire risk

Potential Tradeoffs

Dry climate
Higher housing costs
Higher violent crime
Higher property crime
Elevated riverine flooding risk
Elevated earthquake risk

Potential advantages. FEMA and NOAA assign lower risk designations to tornado and wildfire.

Potential tradeoffs. Annual precipitation is 20.6 inches. The typical home value is $1,393,773, 275% above the $371,774 US median. Median gross rent is $2,419 per month, 73% above the $1,400 per month US median. The reported violent crime rate is 596.5 per 100,000, 66% above the 359.1 per 100,000 US median. The reported property crime rate is 3962.2 per 100,000, 125% above the 1760.1 per 100,000 US median. FEMA and NOAA assign elevated risk designations to riverine flooding and earthquake.

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Climate

Summer high (Jun-Aug avg)62°F

Winter low (Dec-Feb avg)46°F

Annual snowfall0"

Annual precipitation20.6"

Housing & Cost of Living

Typical home value (ZHVI)$1,393,773275% above the $371,774 US median

Median gross rent$2,419/mo73% above the $1,400/mo US median

Safety (Reported Crime)

Violent crime rate596.5 /100,00066% above the 359.1 /100,000 US median

Property crime rate3962.2 /100,000125% above the 1760.1 /100,000 US median

Motor vehicle theft rate672.7 /100,000

Healthcare Access

Nearest hospitalCalifornia Pacific Med Ctr-California West (0.8 mi)

Hospital qualityNot Rated (CMS)

Primary care accessStrong (610 residents/physician)

Walkability

EPA Walkability Index16.0/20 (Most Walkable)

Population & City Size

Population836,321Classified as a large city

Elevation54 ft

Natural Disaster Risk

Riverine floodingRelatively High

Coastal floodingRelatively Moderate

TornadoRelatively Low

HurricaneN/A

WildfireVery Low

EarthquakeVery High

Ice stormsN/A

TsunamiRelatively Moderate

Sources & Freshness

Crime: FBI UCR/NIBRS · Climate: NOAA Climate Normals · Natural disaster risk: FEMA National Risk Index & NOAA · Hospital location & distance: HIFLD · Hospital quality rating: CMS Hospital Compare · Primary care access: HRSA county-level provider data · Home value: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) · Rent: Census ACS place-level data · Population & elevation: US Census Bureau · Walkability: EPA National Walkability Index.
National median/average figures used for comparison (home value, rent, crime, precipitation) are recalculated annually from the same source datasets above.
Data last refreshed: August 2026.
Figures are comparative indicators and may not reflect neighborhood-level conditions. Confirm current housing, healthcare and hazard information with the cited sources before making a relocation decision.

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