Shortest commutes to Downtown San Francisco

Ranked on distance to Downtown San Francisco at 50% and the mean commute time residents report to the Census at 50%. The mean commute includes people who work locally, which is why the two numbers do not always agree.

Updated Sep 2026·59 suburbs considered, 10 listed

San Francisco$1.39M median · 30.4 min commute

Commute D+Housing DCost of living B

Commute score
overall 49 D+

Mill Valley$2.00M+ median · 24.8 min commute

Commute BHousing B−Cost of living C

Commute score
overall 68 B−

San Bruno$1.21M median · 23.7 min commute

Commute B−Housing D+Cost of living C

Commute score
overall 61 C

This is a photo of a place or building that is listed on the California Historical Landmark listing in the United States. Its reference number is

San Rafael$1.36M median · 25.3 min commute

Commute B−Housing DCost of living B

Commute score
overall 58 C

Pacifica$1.25M median · 27.2 min commute

Commute CHousing C−Cost of living C+

Commute score
overall 60 C

Larkspur City Hall — 400 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur, Marin County, California. Contributing property of the Larkspur Downtown Historic District, and on the Nationa

Larkspur$2.00M median · 27.5 min commute

Commute C+Housing C−Cost of living C+

Commute score
overall 67 C+

This sign welcomes people to the neighborhood of North Fair Oaks, California. The sign shows, in silhouette, a person holding a child on their shoulders with an

North Fair Oaks$1.28M median · 22.1 min commute

Commute B+Housing D−Cost of living B+

Commute score
overall 63 C+

Tamalpais-Homestead Valley$1.86M median · 29.3 min commute

Commute CHousing BCost of living B−

Commute score
overall 70 B−

The city of en:South San Francisco, California, as viewed from nearby Sweeney Ridge in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

South San Francisco$1.19M median · 25.6 min commute

Commute C+Housing D+Cost of living C

Commute score
overall 57 C−

Part of Daly City, California. Background: San Bruno Mountain; in the valley: San Francisco neighborhood Crocker Amazon.

Daly City$1.11M median · 28.8 min commute

Commute C−Housing DCost of living B−

Commute score
overall 60 C

This list's weighting

Distance to downtown 50%Mean commute time 50%

Other San Francisco lists

Best San Francisco suburbs for families Most affordable San Francisco suburbs Best San Francisco suburbs for schools Most walkable San Francisco suburbs Best San Francisco suburbs for young professionals How we score San Francisco suburbs →

Photos from Wikimedia Commons: San Francisco (Craig Howell from San Carlos, CA, USA · CC BY 2.0); Mill Valley (SWENOWENSON · CC BY-SA 4.0); San Bruno (Mliu92 · CC BY-SA 3.0); San Rafael (Rose Vekony · CC BY-SA 3.0); Pacifica (Dicklyon · CC BY-SA 4.0); Larkspur (Sanfranman59 · CC BY-SA 3.0); North Fair Oaks (KenShirriff · CC BY-SA 4.0); South San Francisco (Coolcaesar · CC BY-SA 3.0); Daly City (User:Stilfehler · Public domain).