San Francisco/Compare
Nob Hill vs South of Market
Nob Hill and South of Market are two official analysis neighborhoods in San Francisco. Nob Hill is the calmer Part I map (37 vs 0). Nob Hill wins the errand count. South of Market has the lower ACS median ($2,100).
Data vintage. ACS 2024 5-year · SFPD Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 · OSM Sep 2026 · updated Sep 2026
Scores
Fit axes among official San Francisco analysis neighborhoods.
| Axis | Nob Hill | South of Market |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | 37 | 0 |
| Schools | 23 | 0 |
| Walk | 73 | 24 |
| Cost fit | 100 | 100 |
| Vibe | 48 | 25 |
| Median rent | $2,106 | $2,100 |
| Median home | $1,225,172 | $912,403 |
| Population | 23,536 | 25,795 |
| Commute to FiDi | 13 min | 15 min |
| Commute to SoMa | 21 min | 6 min |
| Commute to Mission Bay | 29 min | 14 min |
Living numbers
Who rents, how old, how much crime, how many shops — beside the scores.
| Fact | Nob Hill | South of Market |
|---|---|---|
| Renters | 87% | 80% |
| Median age | 40.1 | 40.8 |
| Median income | $100K | $112K |
| Part I per 1k | 35.9 | 106.8 |
| Groceries / 800m | 59 | 22 |
| Transit stops / 800m | 188 | 116 |
| Parks / 800m | 31 | 44 |
| 311 last 14 days | 1,415 | 1,931 |
Rent
Rent since 2014
ACS 5-year median gross rent for San Francisco city. Up 62% since 2014. Nob is 15% below the 2024 city median. SoMa is 15% below the 2024 city median.
Overlapping 5-year ACS windows (B25064), not asking rent. Census does not publish a rent series for each official neighborhood, so the line is the city place. Dashed marks are each area’s ACS 2024 median.
Which to pick
The same numbers as the table, in sentences. Nobody wins the city.
Pick Nob Hill if you want the errands on foot and the quieter map matters more than the scene. Walk is 73 vs 24. Safety is 37 vs 0. Vibe is 48 vs 25. Read both pages before you decide.
Pick South of Market if you already want this pocket more than the table. Nob Hill leads the numbered axes on this page.
Nob Hill
Cable cars, hotel bars, and a ridge between Chinatown and Pac Heights. Dense without SoMa's warehouse scale.
$2,106 median rent · safety 37 · walk 73
South of Market
Tech lofts, clubs, and a crime rate that downtown visitor traffic inflates. Walk scores max; evening quiet depends on the block.
$2,100 median rent · safety 0 · walk 24
Common questions
Same pair, said in questions. The numbers are in the tables.
Which is cheaper, Nob Hill or South of Market?
South of Market is the lower ACS median: $2,106 vs $2,100. About 80% rent in South of Market vs 87% in Nob Hill. Survey medians, not a listing you can message tonight.
Is Nob Hill more walkable than South of Market?
Nob Hill wins the errand count (walk 73 vs 24). Groceries inside 800 meters: 59 vs 22. Not a Walk Score license.
Which is safer on this map, Nob Hill or South of Market?
Nob Hill is the calmer Part I read (37 vs 0). Combined rate 35.9 vs 106.8 per 1,000. Visitors count in those numbers.
Which scores higher for families, Nob Hill or South of Market?
Nob Hill leads the school axis (23 vs 0). Nearby rating is 6.5 / 10 vs 5.8 / 10. Median age 40.1 vs 40.8. South of Market has more of the night. Neither number is a school assignment.
Which has the shorter commute to FiDi?
13 minutes from Nob Hill to FiDi, 15 from South of Market. Nob Hill is the shorter weekday. Not this hour's traffic.
If you drop both
Closest official analysis neighborhood that is not Nob Hill or South of Market: FiDi / South Beach. Towers, the Embarcadero, and a ballpark on the south edge. Official name is Financial District/South Beach — search FiDi.
Nob Hill vs FiDi / South BeachSouth of Market vs FiDi / South Beach
Scores are relative among official San Francisco analysis neighborhoods with the same editorial weights. Read the method.