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San Francisco

South San Francisco

#8,479 in Best Places to Live in America
  • B+
    Overall Grade
  • Town in California
  • 106 reviews
    B+
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Public Schools
      B
    2. Crime & Safety
      C+
    3. Housing
      D+
    4. Nightlife
      A
    5. Good for Families
      B-
    6. Diversity
      A+
    7. Jobs
      B-
    8. Weather
      A+
    9. Cost of Living
      D+
    10. Health & Fitness
      A+
    11. Outdoor Activities
      A
    12. Commute
      A-
    View Full Report Card
    South San Francisco is a town in California with a population of 67,120. South San Francisco is in San Mateo County. Living in South San Francisco offers residents an urban suburban mix feel and most residents own their homes. In South San Francisco there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many young professionals live in South San Francisco and residents tend to be liberal. The public schools in South San Francisco are above average.
    About South San Francisco...
    Population
    67,120

    Real Estate

    Median Home Value
    $697,400
    National
    $184,700
    Median Rent
    $1,751
    National
    $949
    Area Feel
    Urban Suburban Mix
    Rent vs. Own
    • Rent
      39%
    • Own
      61%
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    South San Francisco Rankings

    Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.

    Crime & Safety

    Crime & Safety
    C+
    Based on violent and property crime rates.
    Violent Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Assault
      151.5
      282.7
    • Murder
      0
      6.1
    • Rape
      32.4
      40.7
    • Robbery
      82.4
      135.5
    Property Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Burglary
      378.1
      500.1
    • Theft
      1,474.1
      2,042.8
    • Motor Vehicle Theft
      272.2
      284

    Residents

    Diversity
    A+
    Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
    Age
    • <10 years
      11%
    • 10-17 years
      9%
    • 18-24 years
      8%
    • 25-34 years
      16%
    • 35-44 years
      14%
    • 45-54 years
      13%
    • 55-64 years
      14%
    • 65+ years
      15%
    Education Levels
    National
    • Master's degree or higher
      7%
      12%
    • Bachelor's degree
      26%
      19%
    • Some college or associate's degree
      31%
      29%
    • High school diploma or equivalent
      21%
      28%
    • Less than high school diploma
      15%
      13%

    Working in South San Francisco

    Jobs
    B-
    Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
    Median Household Income
    $92,074
    National
    $55,322
    Search for Jobs in South San Francisco
    • Public Schools
    • Private Schools
    • Colleges
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    South San Francisco Reviews

    106 reviews
    All Categories
    I was born and raised in SSF - it is my home; however, I visited a few months ago and could not believe the decline in this once thriving little city by the bay. Dirty, streets in need of maintenance, weeds, disheveled yards, a very depressing site to say the least. Walking downtown on Grand Ave. there are flies in front of restaurants and store fronts, dirt and garbage everywhere. It is so sad to witness. What is the City doing about this poor city. We need to stand up and voice a change in governance! What is the mayor doing and her council? They should all be ashamed of themselves.
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    There's literally everything within an hour drive. Colleges, high schools, general necessities, you name it! Only problem I can see is the cost. I've seen some sketchy people around, but most of the time they don't hurt anybody. Just mind your business and you can get around. But still keep some pepper spray on you just it case.
    There is a lot of open areas and there are many things you can do within the vicinity. There are many parks and recreational opportunities for children and adults alike. There is a large sense of community in South San Francisco with the active beautification projects and a strong connection to local volunteer organizations. The mayor seems very active and attends a large majority of these events, from what I've seen. In education, thousands of dollars have been given in scholarships, especially for STEM majors. Genetech, the local biotechnology lab has been very generous in its neighboring high schools by providing scholarships of up to $250,000, sponsored field trips, sponsored competitions for middle school students, funded the creation of a biotech lab in South San Francisco High School, and much more. It is fairly safe, but gangs and drug dealings are not uncommon to see.