ROIStack
Market Intelligence

San Francisco, CA

Updated quarterly · Data sourced from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI, Census ACS, and FHFA. · California overview

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Home Value

$1180k+7.1%

Median Rent

$3,150+2.5%

Per month average

Gross Yield

3.20%

Annual rent / value

Rent / Price

0.267%

1% rule benchmark

HH Income

$127,000

Median household

Owner-Occ

52.0%

Renter-Occ

48.0%

Tenant demand share

Population

4.6M

Metro area census

Market Analysis

The San Francisco, CA real estate market currently sits at a median home value of $1180k with median rents around $3,150/month, producing a gross yield of 3.20%. That puts San Francisco in the category of compressed gross yield, primarily an appreciation play. Over the past year, home values are up 7.1%, while rents rose 2.5%, the gap between those two trends is what determines whether yield compresses or expands over time for buy-and-hold investors in California. San Francisco is a renter-heavy market (48% renter-occupied) that supports steady tenant demand, with median household income of $127,000 setting the affordability ceiling on future rent growth.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in San Francisco, CA?
As of late 2025, the median rent in San Francisco is approximately $3,150 per month, with rent growth of 2.5% year over year.
Is San Francisco a good market for rental property investing?
San Francisco produces a gross rental yield of about 3.20%. That is below the 7% LTR benchmark, so investors in San Francisco typically combine modest cash flow with appreciation upside. Run your specific numbers in a calculator before committing capital.
What is the median home price in San Francisco?
The median home value in San Francisco, CA is approximately $1,180,000, up 7.1% from a year ago.
How have home prices changed in San Francisco over the past year?
Home values in San Francisco have moved 7.1% year over year, while rents have changed by 2.5%. This price-to-rent gap is the single biggest driver of long-term rental investor returns in the California market.
What is the rent-to-price ratio in San Francisco?
San Francisco has a rent-to-price ratio of 0.267%, meaning monthly rent is about 0.267% of the home's price. The "1% rule" used by buy-and-hold investors looks for 1.0%+; this market falls short of that bar, which is typical for most large US metros today.

Nearby California markets

Los Angeles, CARiverside, CASan Diego, CA

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