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San Francisco's neighborhoods conjure up too many stereotypes to count. You've got hipster areas, preppy places, neighborhoods where college kids thrive, and of course, ghettos.
It seems as if there's a neighborhood for everyone in San Francisco.
And while the city consistently ranks as one of the best places to live in the country thanks in part to a strong economy and tons of entertainment, it's not all rainbows and sunshine in San Francisco. Some neighborhoods aren't as great as others.
So the question arises, which San Francisco neighborhoods are the worst, and which are the best?
Today, we'll use science and data to determine which San Francisco hoods need a little tender loving care - the sore thumbs of the San Francisco area if you will. Realistically, you can't expect all the neighborhoods to be amazing, although Pacific Heights ranks way above the rest.
We examined 34 of San Francisco's neighborhoods to find out the worst places to live. These places don't quite measure up to San Francisco's reputation.
The Worst Neighborhoods In San Francisco For 2021
So what's the worst neighborhood to live in San Francisco for 2021? According to the most recent census data, Bayview looks to be the worst neighborhood in San Francisco.
Read on to see how we determined the places around San Francisco that need a pick-me-up. And remember, don't blame the messenger.
Once you're done, you can look at the bottom of the story for a complete chart of every neighborhood we looked at from worst to best. Looking for places to avoid outside of the city? You can also check out the worst suburbs of San Francisco.
For more California reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In California
- Cheapest Places To Live In California
- Most Dangerous Cities In California
The 10 Worst Neighborhoods In San Francisco For 2021
/10
Population: 24,607
Rank Last Year: 2 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $541,511 (3rd worst)
Median Income: $62,162 (3rd worst)
More on Visitacion Valley: Data
/10
Population: 39,932
Rank Last Year: 4 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $278,081 (worst)
Median Income: $43,555 (2nd worst)
More on Downtown: Data
/10
Population: 10,136
Rank Last Year: 5 (Down 1)
Median Home Value: $557,736 (4th worst)
Median Income: $35,896 (worst)
More on Chinatown: Data
/10
Population: 13,448
Rank Last Year: 6 (Down 1)
Median Home Value: $852,064 (14th worst)
Median Income: $162,259 (34th worst)
More on Potrero Hill: Data
Potrero Hill is a residential neighborhood in San Francisco, California. It is known for its views of the San Francisco Bay and city skyline, its proximity to many destination spots, its sunny weather, and having two freeways and a Caltrain station.
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Population: 11,601
Rank Last Year: 17 (Up 8)
Median Home Value: $930,373 (19th worst)
Median Income: $83,033 (9th worst)
More on North Beach: Data
The 'hoods around San Francisco that are really hoods
Well there you have it -- the worst of the neighborhoods in San Francisco with Bayview landing at the bottom of the pack.
As we mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in San Francisco aren't all bad. Pacific Heights takes the cake as the best place to live in San Francisco.
We ranked the neighborhoods from worst to best in the chart below.
For more California reading, check out:
Where Are The Worst Neighborhoods To Live In San Francisco For 2021?
Rank | Neighborhood | Population |
---|---|---|
1 | Bayview | 35,739 |
2 | Visitacion Valley | 24,607 |
3 | Lakeshore | 22,014 |
4 | Downtown | 39,932 |
5 | Financial District | 6,974 |
6 | Chinatown | 10,136 |
7 | Potrero Hill | 13,448 |
8 | Excelsior | 37,796 |
9 | North Beach | 11,601 |
10 | Outer Mission | 29,799 |
11 | Mission | 56,009 |
12 | South Of Market | 35,386 |
13 | Crocker Amazon | 11,751 |
14 | Parkside | 27,661 |
15 | Diamond Heights | 2,239 |
16 | Ocean View | 30,618 |
17 | Western Addition | 52,616 |
18 | Bernal Heights | 28,638 |
19 | Castro-Upper Market | 21,884 |
20 | Outer Sunset | 50,788 |
21 | Glen Park | 6,919 |
22 | Inner Richmond | 38,842 |
23 | Russian Hill | 17,133 |
24 | Twin Peaks | 7,538 |
25 | Nob Hill | 21,931 |
26 | Presidio Heights | 8,734 |
27 | West Of Twin Peaks | 21,375 |
28 | Haight-Ashbury | 23,717 |
29 | Outer Richmond | 36,055 |
30 | Marina | 22,358 |
31 | Seacliff | 1,429 |
32 | Inner Sunset | 27,720 |
33 | Noe Valley | 21,074 |
34 | Pacific Heights | 19,716 |