City comparison
Yes. San Francisco's crime index is 183 versus 221 in Toledo, and its violent crime index is 156 versus 279, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Toledo is cheaper. Median rent is $934 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
The income gap between San Francisco and Toledo is significant: $140,970 median household versus $62,224. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,476 in San Francisco and $934 in Toledo.
San Francisco is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Toledo makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone San Francisco is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Toledo at $934 average has pockets that run $734 and others at $1,334: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Francisco and Toledo are 2,065 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $934 a month in Toledo, down $1,542 a month (62%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $62,224 in Toledo, down $78,746 (56%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 221 in Toledo, up 38 points (21%).
The move
Toledo and San Francisco are 2,065 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $934 a month in Toledo to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $1,542 a month (165%).
Median household income goes from $62,224 in Toledo to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $78,746 (127%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Toledo to 183 in San Francisco, down 38 points (17%).
San Francisco, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Toledo, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Francisco and Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
62% cheaper
Toledo rent is 62% cheaper than San Francisco
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Toledo
Winner$934/mo
Typical rent runs $934 a month in Toledo versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Toledo is 62% cheaper. That's roughly $1,542/month back in your pocket ($18,504/year). Over five years that's $92,520 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, Toledo is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in San Francisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
127% higher
San Francisco's median income is 127% higher than Toledo
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
Toledo
$62,224
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $62,224 in Toledo, so typical pay runs 127% higher in San Francisco (about $78,746 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. Toledo can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
17% lower crime
San Francisco's crime index is 17% lower than Toledo
San Francisco
Winner183 (100 = avg)
Toledo
221 (100 = avg)
San Francisco's crime index is 183 versus 221 in Toledo (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 17% lower in San Francisco. 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, San Francisco is the easier city. Toledo can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
64% more comfortable
San Francisco weather is 64% more comfortable than Toledo
San Francisco
Winner65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Toledo
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
San Francisco averages about 65°F (73°F highs); Toledo averages about 51°F (58°F highs). San Francisco sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Toledo averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. San Francisco scores 64% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Toledo if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
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 127% higher ($140,970), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 65°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
San Francisco is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 17% lower than Toledo (183 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Toledo
Toledo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 62% cheaper here at about $934 a month. Choose Toledo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Toledo at $934/month versus $2,476 in San Francisco ($1,542 apart). San Francisco median income is $140,970 against $62,224 in Toledo, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Toledo rent at $934/month is still below San Francisco's $2,476, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 65°F in San Francisco and 51°F in Toledo.
If housing cost drives your move, Toledo is the stronger match ($934/month rent against $2,476). If an employer or family tie already points to San Francisco, treat $2,476/month rent and $140,970 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Francisco and Toledo, plus other cities in CA and OH.
