City comparison
No. Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 183 in San Francisco, and its violent crime index is 165 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Anaheim is cheaper. Median rent is $2,175 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
The income gap between San Francisco and Anaheim is significant: $140,970 median household versus $95,227. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,476 in San Francisco and $2,175 in Anaheim.
This is a genuine split. San Francisco wins on the job market and Anaheim wins on cost of living and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Anaheim has rougher pockets and San Francisco has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
San Francisco and Anaheim are 371 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $2,175 a month in Anaheim, down $301 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $95,227 in Anaheim, down $45,743 (32%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 143 in Anaheim, down 40 points (22%).
The move
Anaheim and San Francisco are 371 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,175 a month in Anaheim to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $301 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $95,227 in Anaheim to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $45,743 (48%).
The crime index goes from 143 in Anaheim to 183 in San Francisco, up 40 points (28%).
San Francisco, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Anaheim, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Francisco and Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Anaheim rent is 12% cheaper than San Francisco
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Anaheim
Winner$2,175/mo
Typical rent runs $2,175 a month in Anaheim versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Anaheim is 12% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,612, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Anaheim still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in San Francisco.
Planning to buy in Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
48% higher
San Francisco's median income is 48% higher than Anaheim
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
Anaheim
$95,227
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $95,227 in Anaheim, so typical pay runs 48% higher in San Francisco (about $45,743 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. Anaheim can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
22% lower crime
Anaheim's crime index is 22% lower than San Francisco
San Francisco
183 (100 = avg)
Anaheim
Winner143 (100 = avg)
Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 183 in San Francisco (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 22% lower in Anaheim. 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, Anaheim is the easier city. San Francisco can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
San Francisco and Anaheim are about even on typical weather.
San Francisco
65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Anaheim
76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Francisco averages about 65°F (73°F highs); Anaheim averages about 76°F (83°F highs). San Francisco sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Anaheim sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
San Francisco is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 48% higher here ($140,970). Start with San Francisco if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Anaheim is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 12% cheaper here at about $2,175 a month. Choose Anaheim if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Anaheim is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 22% lower than San Francisco (143 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.
Bottom line
San Francisco posts $140,970 median household income against $95,227 in Anaheim. That 32% pay gap is the story when rents are $2,175 in Anaheim and $2,476 in San Francisco.
San Francisco still pays more locally ($140,970 median income vs $95,227), which can offset the lease if your field pays San Francisco rates.
Typical rent stays $2,175 in Anaheim and $2,476 in San Francisco.
Most movers who prioritize local pay land in San Francisco; Anaheim only makes sense when $2,175/month housing savings outweigh $140,970 median pay in your field.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Anaheim when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Francisco and Anaheim, plus other cities in CA.
