How many renters in San Francisco, CA pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in San Francisco, CA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

39.6% (±1.1 points) of renting households in San Francisco, CA spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

31.7% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 25.1% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 39.6% (±1.1 points)
Paying 35% or more: 31.7% (±1.0 points)
Median share of income: 25.1% (±0.5 points)

Rent as a share of income in San Francisco

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	San Francisco	San Francisco County	California	United States
Less than 15%	20.6% (±0.8 points)	20.6%	10.4%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	15.7% (±0.8 points)	15.7%	11.1%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	13.4% (±0.7 points)	13.4%	12.0%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	10.6% (±0.6 points)	10.6%	11.2%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	7.9% (±0.5 points)	7.9%	9.3%	9.2%
35% or more	31.7% (±1.0 points)	31.7%	46.0%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

San Francisco against San Francisco County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	San Francisco	San Francisco County	California	United States
Paying 30% or more	39.6% (±1.1 points)	39.6% (±1.1 points)	55.3% (±0.2 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	31.7% (±1.0 points)	31.7% (±1.0 points)	46.0% (±0.2 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	25.1% (±0.5 points)	25.1% (±0.5 points)	32.8% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$112,757 (±$4,185)	$112,757 (±$4,185)	$71,186 (±$298)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$2,476 (±$30)	$2,476 (±$30)	$2,036 (±$5)	$1,413

In San Francisco, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from San Francisco County (39.6%).

It is also lower than in California (55.3%).

It is lower than the national figure (51.1%).

Statewide, it ranks 915 of 1,067.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near San Francisco

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with San Francisco
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
San Francisco	—	39.6% (±1.1 points)	—
Bolinas	22 mi	59.2% (±30.9 points)	Not measurably different
Inverness	26 mi	80.9% (±32.5 points)	Higher
Lagunitas-Forest Knolls	27 mi	51.8% (±47.0 points)	Not measurably different
Woodacre	29 mi	0.0% (±100.0 points)	Not measurably different
Tamalpais-Homestead Valley	29 mi	38.0% (±15.5 points)	Not measurably different
Mill Valley	30 mi	39.4% (±12.8 points)	Not measurably different
Kentfield	30 mi	45.9% (±18.3 points)	Not measurably different
Fairfax	30 mi	56.9% (±15.2 points)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Inverness, CA (80.9%), Fairfax, CA (56.9%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about San Francisco

Are renters in San Francisco rent-burdened?

39.6% of renting households in San Francisco pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in San Francisco spend on rent?

The median renting household in San Francisco, CA spends 25.1% (±0.5 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for San Francisco city, California (place:67000, in state:06).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.