San Francisco

Most affordable San Francisco suburbs

Ranked on what a household actually pays: the in-house cost-of-living index at 55%, the median home value against the metro at 25% (lower is better here), and the share of households already stretched by housing costs at 20%.

Updated Sep 2026·59 suburbs considered, 10 listed
1
City Hall in Oakley, California.
Oakley$660k median · 40.3 min commute
Cost of living BHousing FEmployment D+
67
Affordability
overall 42 D−
2
San Lorenzo
San Lorenzo$847k median · 31.0 min commute
Cost of living BHousing D−Employment D
65
Affordability
overall 51 D+
3
Aerial view of Bay Point, California, facing approximately northwest.
Bay Point$525k median · 36.1 min commute
Cost of living BHousing FEmployment F
65
Affordability
overall 40 D−
4
Welcome sign over San Pablo Avenue, San Pablo, California.
San Pablo$552k median · 32.3 min commute
Cost of living BHousing FEmployment F
63
Affordability
overall 40 D−
5
Cherryland community identifier mural on Mission Blvd I-238 underpass looking southwards
Cherryland$669k median · 31.0 min commute
Cost of living B+Housing FEmployment F
63
Affordability
overall 47 D
6
Downtown Pinole
Pinole$719k median · 35.0 min commute
Cost of living C+Housing DEmployment D+
62
Affordability
overall 47 D
7
Community identifier mural "Ashland" painted on I-238 overpass at Mission Blvd near Ashland, CA, viewed from the south. Minimal foreground and background elemen
Ashland$776k median · 32.7 min commute
Cost of living B+Housing FEmployment F
61
Affordability
overall 46 D
8
Todos Santos Plaza, Concord, CA
Concord$798k median · 32.6 min commute
Cost of living BHousing FEmployment D
61
Affordability
overall 53 C−
9
Carquinez Regional Shoreline
Martinez$860k median · 28.4 min commute
Cost of living B−Housing DEmployment D+
60
Affordability
overall 57 C−
10
Albany seen from Albany Hill
Albany$1.20M median · 30.8 min commute
Cost of living BHousing DEmployment B−
59
Affordability
overall 69 B−
This list's weighting
Cost of living 55%Median home value (lower is better) 25%Cost-burdened households 20%
Other San Francisco lists
Best San Francisco suburbs for familiesBest San Francisco suburbs for schoolsShortest commutes to Downtown San FranciscoMost walkable San Francisco suburbsBest San Francisco suburbs for young professionalsHow we score San Francisco suburbs →

Photos from Wikimedia Commons: Oakley (LPS.1 · CC0); San Lorenzo (Alfred Twu · CC0); Bay Point (Alfred Twu · CC0); San Pablo (LPS.1 · CC0); Cherryland (Naddruf · CC BY-SA 4.0); Pinole (Fashionbaby90 · CC0); Ashland (Naddruf · CC BY-SA 4.0); Concord (Geraoma · Public domain); Martinez (Federico Pizano · CC BY 3.0); Albany (Das osmnezz · CC0).