San Francisco California Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in San Francisco, CA (the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro area) was $2,057 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in San Francisco was $2,014 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 San Francisco median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for San Francisco rental vacancy rates, San Francisco rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in San Francisco.
Real Gross Rent in San Francisco California (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| California Median Gross Rent | $1,614 | +4.33% | +12.08% |
| San Francisco, CA Median Gross Rent | $2,057 | +3.94% | +11.79% |
San Francisco, CA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $2,057, real median gross rent in San Francisco was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $2,014, real average gross rent in San Francisco was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in San Francisco: San Francisco CA Median, San Francisco CA Average, California Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for San Francisco
| Date | US Median |
California Median |
San Francisco, CA Median |
San Francisco, CA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,614 | $2,057 | $2,014 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,547 | $1,979 | $1,982 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,492 | $1,911 | $1,916 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,440 | $1,840 | $1,870 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,391 | $1,722 | $1,755 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,339 | $1,604 | $1,647 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,289 | $1,511 | $1,571 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,277 | $1,488 | $1,534 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,268 | $1,453 | $1,498 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,300 | $1,468 | $1,515 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,316 | $1,485 | $1,534 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,266 | $1,422 | $1,493 |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,216 | $1,419 | $1,451 |
San Francisco Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for San Francisco California was 3.55% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in San Francisco California
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| California | 4.06% | +0.09% | +0.75% |
| San Francisco, CA | 3.55% | -0.59% | +0.89% |
Trends in San Francisco, CA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in San Francisco peaked in 2006 at 6.97%. Since then it has fallen by 3.42% to 3.55%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2015 post peak low of 2.34%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 1.21%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: San Francisco CA, California, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for San Francisco
| Date | US | California | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.06% | 3.55% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.97% | 4.14% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.49% | 3.18% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.31% | 2.66% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.33% | 2.34% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 3.90% | 2.68% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.22% | 2.99% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 4.51% | 3.28% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 4.94% | 4.10% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.86% | 5.31% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.76% | 5.46% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 4.72% | 5.67% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 4.61% | 6.10% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for San Francisco, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For San Francisco, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 21.52% in 2019 according to the ACS.
San Francisco California Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| California | 24.08% | -0.15% | -0.28% |
| San Francisco, CA | 21.52% | -0.10% | -0.29% |
Trends in San Francisco, CA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median San Francisco household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2011 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 22.42%. Since then it has fallen by 0.90% to 21.52%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: San Francisco CA, California, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in San Francisco California
| Date | US | California | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 24.08% | 21.52% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 24.23% | 21.62% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 24.18% | 21.86% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 24.36% | 21.81% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 24.39% | 22.00% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 24.57% | 21.90% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 24.40% | 21.63% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 24.69% | 22.41% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 24.59% | 22.42% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 24.18% | 21.59% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 23.52% | 21.18% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 21.58% | 19.73% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 21.77% | 20.83% |
Renter Fraction in San Francisco California
You can calculate the renter fraction in San Francisco in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in San Francisco as a fraction of total San Francisco households. In 2019 45.97% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
San Francisco Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| California | 45.14% | -0.04% | -1.22% |
| San Francisco, CA | 45.97% | +0.94% | -0.43% |
Trends in the San Francisco, CA Renter Fraction
The San Francisco household renter fraction peaked in in 2012 at 46.98% and is now 1.01% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: San Francisco CA, California, US
History of San Francisco Renter Fraction
| Date | US | California | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 45.14% | 45.97% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 45.18% | 45.03% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 45.21% | 45.36% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 46.36% | 46.40% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 46.41% | 46.54% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 46.27% | 46.80% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 46.21% | 46.42% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 45.97% | 46.98% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 45.12% | 46.34% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 44.36% | 45.57% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 43.43% | 44.46% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 42.00% | 42.18% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 41.56% | 42.18% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
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