Which city is safer, San Francisco or Raleigh?

Raleigh is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 122 in San Francisco — 74% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, San Francisco or Raleigh?

School composites are close: A- in San Francisco and A- in Raleigh. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

San Francisco, CA vs Raleigh, NC

San Francisco, CA versus Raleigh, NC is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $2,476 a month in San Francisco and $1,572 in Raleigh, and median household income lands at $140,970 versus $85,395. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

San Francisco takes job market and weather, while Raleigh takes affordability and safety. The widest gap is crime index, where Raleigh leads by 74% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in San Francisco can feel further apart than San Francisco and Raleigh do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the San Francisco and Raleigh reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full San Francisco report Full Raleigh report

San Francisco, CA

Rent: $2,476/mo
Median income: $140,970
Crime index: 122
Schools: A-
Weather: 63°F

Raleigh, NC

Rent: $1,572/mo
Median income: $85,395
Crime index: 32
Schools: A-
Weather: 78°F

Rent

37% cheaper

Raleigh rent is 37% cheaper than San Francisco

San Francisco

$2,476/mo

Raleigh

Winner

$1,572/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,572 a month in Raleigh versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Raleigh is 37% cheaper. That's roughly $904/month back in your pocket — $10,848/year. Over five years that's $54,240 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in San Francisco, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Raleigh is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

65% higher

San Francisco's median income is 65% higher than Raleigh

San Francisco

Winner

$140,970

Raleigh

$85,395

What this means for your life

Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $85,395 in Raleigh, so typical pay runs 65% higher in San Francisco — about $55,575 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, San Francisco is the stronger labor market on paper. Raleigh can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

74% lower crime

Raleigh's crime index is 74% lower than San Francisco

San Francisco

122 (100 = avg)

Raleigh

Winner

32 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Raleigh's crime index is 32 versus 122 in San Francisco (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 74% lower in Raleigh. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Raleigh is the easier city. San Francisco can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

San Francisco and Raleigh are about even on school scores.

San Francisco

A- · 84/100

Raleigh

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in San Francisco, A- in Raleigh). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

4% more comfortable

San Francisco weather is 4% more comfortable than Raleigh

San Francisco

Winner

63°F typical

Raleigh

78°F typical

What this means for your life

San Francisco scores 4% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 63°F in San Francisco and 78°F in Raleigh. San Francisco reads as mild, livable temperatures; Raleigh reads as warm weather most of the year. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Raleigh's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, San Francisco is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose San Francisco

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 65% higher ($140,970), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 63°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the San Francisco report →

Fit check

Who should choose Raleigh

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

Raleigh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 37% cheaper here at about $1,572 a month. Choose Raleigh if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 74% lower than San Francisco (32 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Raleigh report →

Bottom line

San Francisco vs Raleigh, called

If safety is your priority, Raleigh is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, San Francisco pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Raleigh offers the better overall package.

Common questions

San Francisco vs Raleigh FAQ

Is San Francisco cheaper than Raleigh?: No. Raleigh is cheaper: typical rent is $1,572 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco — 37% lower. Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco compared with $85,395 in Raleigh, so San Francisco has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, San Francisco or Raleigh?: Raleigh is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 122 in San Francisco — 74% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, San Francisco or Raleigh?: School composites are close: A- in San Francisco and A- in Raleigh. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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