The typical owner-occupied home in San Francisco is worth about $1,394,500, 90% above the California median of $734,700 and 4.2 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $9,862 a year in property taxes, about 0.71% of their home's value, close to the California rate of 0.70%. The median household earns $140,970 a year, so the median home costs 9.9 times the median income (7.4 times for California). 38% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 64% of those owners still have a mortgage.
San Francisco at a glance
| San Francisco | California | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,394,500 | $734,700 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $9,862 | $5,124 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.71% | 0.70% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $140,970 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 38% | 56% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 64% | 67% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $4,001 | $2,946 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 24.1% | 24.8% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $2,476 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 25.1% | 32.8% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1946 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 12.2% | 7.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 830,235 | 39,287,377 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in San Francisco
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median San Francisco home of $1,394,500 with 20% down costs about $8,911 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $11,458, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $381,893 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 76% of the median San Francisco household income of $140,970; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $515,000.
The median rent here is $2,476 a month, so owning the median home costs about $6,435 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $278,900 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $1,115,600 |
| Principal and interest | $7,505 |
| Property taxes (0.71% a year) | $825 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $581 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $8,911 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $48,808 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $1,369,242 |
| Principal and interest | $9,211 |
| Property taxes (0.71% a year) | $825 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $581 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $841 |
| Total per month | $11,458 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in San Francisco
What is the median home value in San Francisco?
About $1,394,500 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in San Francisco?
Homeowners pay a median $9,862 a year, which is about 0.71% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in San Francisco?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $8,911 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $381,893 a year.
More about San Francisco
- Mortgage Refinance in San Francisco
- Debt Relief in San Francisco
- Home Equity Loans in San Francisco
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data