There are few cities in the world that have such striking contrasts as San Francisco. Beautiful hills roll down to its picturesque bridges and blue ocean- covered with lavish mansions alongside heartbreaking tent communities (e.g. among US cities, (San Francisco ranks #6 in homeless people). San Francisco is rated as America’s #1 costliest city, with burdensome astronomical living and housing costs. Crime is a factor in many areas. Yet San Francisco’s 900,000 residents enjoy vibrant neighborhoods, incredibly good public transportation, high employment from the top global companies of the world, and some of the best food and wine in the country. San Francisco is indeed a city of remarkable extremes.
San Francisco’s safety record presents a mixed picture as well. Compared to other US locations, San Francisco is higher in property crime (5,205 victims per 100,000 people) compared to all of New York state at 1,400 per 100,000 or Texas at 2,100 per 100,000. However violent crimes in San Francisco are at a moderate level and lower than in Chicago and some Texas cities. Chances of being a violent crime victim in San Francisco in 2021 were 1 in 148.
State authorities are happy to note that in 2024 city crime rates have been steadily decreasing. Residents generally consider the east part of the city to be the safest e.g. the Financial District, South of Market [SoMa], Mission Bay, Embarcadero, Potrero Hill, Dogpatch, Rincon Hill. As a rule, the north part of the city is also considered safe– North Beach, Fisherman’s Wharf, Russian Hill, upscale Nob Hill, The Marina, and Pacific Heights (where movies Mrs. Doubtfire, The Princes Diaries, and The Rock were filmed).
So if you are considering a move to this area, here’s what you need to know about the safe places to live in San Francisco. Most “San Francisco safest neighborhoods” rankings have these top 10 places on them:
Crocker Amazon
Part of the Excelsior district, this densely urban neighborhood on the southernmost tip of San Francisco is known for 44.1% of its residents being of Asian ancestry– higher than any other neighborhood in America. White collar professionals and families are the biggest groups that live here, with collective occupations in management, sales and service, and tech support. Most houses date from the 1950’s, and the housing costs are high– with median sale house prices at $1,135,000 and 1 bedroom rentals at $2,708/month. Public transportation is good, with bus and BART options, plus proximity to the interstate 280. The rate of crime in the Crocker Amazon neighborhood is 25.86 per 1,000 residents during a standard year- an A- on crime rankings.
Oceanview
Not only is this southern neighborhood one of San Francisco’s safest places, there’s economic and ethnic diversity here, plus it’s convenient to San Francisco State University and UCSF. 50% of all Oceanview residents were born in another country- many are Asian, Iranian, Mexican, German, Irish and Polish. 43.3% of Oceanview residents drive a private car to work, though there is train access here. Residents work at a mix of white collar, sales and service, and manufacturing occupations-there’s also numerous staff and students from the nearby universities here. Median house prices are $1,079,187 and 1 bedroom apartments rent for around $3,000/month.
Bernal Heights
Another one of the safe and family-friendly neighborhoods in San Francisco comes with a price tag- Bernal Heights’ housing prices start around $1,320,000 for a home, with median rents around $4,400/mo. Often described as a quaint urban village, this southeastern neighborhood offers unrivaled views stretching from the Golden Gate Bridge to the San Bruno Mountains. (There’s even secret staircases in some communities that access the stunning views). Bernal Heights is home to young professionals, singles, and families, attracted to its many parks, indie galleries, coffee shops and local LGBTQ+ businesses. Though this neighborhood had its start as a wild lawless Gold Rush town, it is now considered safe, with a B- Crime Grade (meaning crime here is slightly lower than the US average neighborhoods).
Bayview
Bayview is probably San Francisco’s sunniest neighborhood, with one of California’s oldest business districts, and longest-lasting African American communities in CA. Today there is a mix of Asian, Hispanic, white, and black residents. This southeastern neighborhood is home to Candlestick Park outdoor stadium- famous for its 49’ers NFL football team (and where the Beatles played their final concert in 1966). Median home listings here are $900,233 and 1 bedroom apartments median rents are high at $3,662/mo. Bayview’s overall crime rate ranks at D+ due in part to its stadium, parks, and retail areas, where an influx of visitors raise the crime rate (though few residents live near these recreational areas).
Excelsior
Excelsior is a southeast district below Bernal Heights, with smaller internal neighborhoods of Mission Terrace, Outer Mission, Portola and Crocker Amazon. Located further from downtown in the South Bay Area, Excelsior still offers easily accessible public transportation, making car ownership moot. Overall crime levels rank well at A-, ratings slump only due to cost of housing (C-) and cost of living (D+). Median listing house price is $1.1 million, with a median rent price of $2,725/month. Families, retirees, and young professionals alike enjoy this suburban neighborhood that is still close to the city center.
Outer Sunset
If you like the City by the Bay’s moody foggy weather, Outer Sunset is your place. Part of the larger Sunset District, pricey Outer Sunset is the westernmost neighborhood along the Pacific Ocean side. Described as suburban living within the city, median house prices hover around a million, and 1 bedroom rents start at $2,250. 56.7% of residents own here, 43.3% rent. Surfers, young professionals, families and nature lovers flock here, budget permitting. Crime Grade safety ranking gives Outer Sunset an overall crime grade of A, making it one of the best low-crime areas in San Francisco.
Inner Sunset
South of Golden Gate Park, and close to UCSF medical campus and San Francisco State University, Inner Sunset is a favorite of young professionals and students. Foodies also enjoy the restaurant scene in this western locale, and its restaurants compete with those of its “geographical twin” Inner Richmond on the Northside of Golden Gate Park. A competitive housing market drives rents in Inner Sunset to begin at $2,743/month for 1 bedroom apartments. Median house prices are currently listed at $1,402,500. Inner Sunset crime rate is better than the CA state average and safer than the national average.
OUTER RICHMOND
If you want a Queen Anne or Mission Revival-style house in a relaxed suburban neighborhood, Outer Richmond is for you. This part of western San Francisco was originally called The Avenues, and boasts access to attractions such as Lincoln Park, Legion Honor Museum and Sutro Baths. The crime rate is better than 82% of San Francisco’s neighborhoods. There’s an INNER RICHMOND also- more accessible and livelier, with casual ethnic restaurants and shops. Inner Richmond reflects the Russian, Mexican, French, Italian and Asian residents that call this area home. Median home prices are $1,024,713 and monthly rents start around $1,700
Noe Valley
Noe Valley in central San Francisco is another San Francisco neighborhood with low crime rates. It has a small-town charm and a warm sunny microclimate quite different from San Francisco’s usual fog- but it is one of SF’s most expensive areas. Noe Valley’s main thoroughfare is 24th Street, lined with wellness studios, artisanal shops, and its biggest tenant Whole Foods. This very safe family-friendly neighborhood has home prices that are up 21.8% compared to last year- median house prices are at $2,000,000 levels-average rents range from $2,173-$4,584.
The Marina
The Marina is an upscale northernmost neighborhood, with trendy boutiques, and many restaurants and bars that promote an active social scene. The Marina attracts young professionals and affluent families, and also those seeking active outdoor living, due to nearby Crissy Field or the Presidio with their green spaces for jogging and biking. There is a very competitive housing market, with current house prices of $2,625,000. Rents likewise match this high-end level, at $3,500/month (81% higher than the national average). Overall crime ranks at B- (lower crime than the average US neighborhoods) with property crimes such as theft or burglary being most common.
In summary, these and many other San Francisco neighborhoods with low crime rates should be investigated as possible new home destinations. With just a bit of research into the fascinating City by the Bay, you can find your most secure residence.
