San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
Stockton-Lodi
Opportunity
57 · Top 46%
vs39 · Bottom 17%
Growth
36 · Bottom 27%
vs50 · Top 49%
Climate
85 · Top 2%
vs76 · Top 15%
Physical resilience
35 · Bottom 24%
vs24 · Bottom 12%
Housing affordability
50 · Bottom 2%
vs63 · Bottom 7%
Access
99 · Top 2%
vs100 · Top 1%
Economic stability
88 · Top 5%
vs70 · Top 25%
Measured values
| Metric | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | Stockton-Lodi | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,645,029 | 797,334 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $136,027 | $92,179 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $74,352 | $37,266 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,881/sq mi | 573/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $1,140,700 | $530,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,474 | $1,734 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 55.5% | 62.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 6.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.4% | -1.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.9% | 22.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.9% | 12.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 8,350 | 2,274 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.8 | 2.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 29.7% | -34.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 72°F | 95°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 42°F | 39°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 18.7" | 13.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 5 mi | 3 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 33.7 min | 35.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.3 | 35.4 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Stockton-Lodi
Elevated or high exposure: drought, earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
64
Your Score
56
Area Score
Stockton-Lodi
60
Your Score
52
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA Metro Area · Stockton-Lodi, CA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology