Are most people here in the city living in poverty? (San Francisco: middle-class, apartments)

[bigsur989]

The median income here is no way enough to afford the cost of living. Its low when you adjust for COL. How do people in San Francisco get by? Besides the obvious homeless people everywhere digging in the trash for free food and the ones sleeping on the streets (which I am continuously amazed by the number of them).

I guess it helps that this is the most childless city in the U.S. so no extra expenses. I just moved back here (was gone for 15 years) and it seems people here are "poorer" than cities like Houston or Dallas because the bump in salary is not even close to being enough to afford the same lifestyle.

What is it? Government assistance? Rent control? Multiple roommates?

I would never move back to Dallas but San Francisco is such a hard place to live!! I make well above the median income and my quality of life much worse (in terms of having money) than it was when I moved here..I just can't imagine how half of the rest of the city gets by!!! My friends back in Dallas certainly had more "stuff" than my friends here.

[Ruth4Truth]

Most people live in the more affordable communities around SF, and commute in.

[Leo3]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

Most people live in the more affordable communities around SF, and commute in.

This.

Yes, San Francisco is a very middle-class or lower middle-class place. Lots struggling people. People with 5 roommates. Lots of immigrants packed into apartments. Rent control. But honestly, that describes every city in America as these types of cities tend to attract only the rich and the poor these days. But its just worse here because the cost of living is very high so yes, the middle-class here is very poor by standards of other cities. It's a city of haves and have nots.

Only 10% people here actually live in the city for a reason. Move out of the city and your QOL will improve.

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by bigsur989

The median income here is no way enough to afford the cost of living. How do people get by? I guess it helps that this is the most childless city in the U.S. but I just moved back here (was gone for 15 years) and it seems people here are "poorer" than cities like Houston or Dallas because the bump in salary is not even close to being enough to afford the same lifestyle.

I would never move back to Dallas but this is a hard place to live!!

It all depends on what kind of household we're talking about...

This is from the 2012 Census Bureau Estimates:

Average Family Income,
2 workers, husband and wife
Marin County $209,039
San Francisco County $180,548
Santa Clara County $179,261
San Mateo County $176,633
Alameda County $155,449
Contra Costa County $150,550

So while not all households are in a financial position to buy a single family home, many dual income families are.

So if you are young, I can see how the specter of Bay Area home prices might seem daunting. In time, it will seem more attainable because you will be more financially stable(even if it's still outlandishly expensive)

[andyadhi01]

Originally Posted by 18Montclair

It all depends on what kind of household we're talking about...

This is from the 2012 Census Bureau Estimates:

Average Family Income,
2 workers, husband and wife
Marin County $209,039
San Francisco County $180,548
Santa Clara County $179,261
San Mateo County $176,633
Alameda County $155,449
Contra Costa County $150,550

So while not all households are in a financial position to buy a single family home, many dual income families are.

So if you are young, I can see how the specter of Bay Area home prices might seem daunting. In time, it will seem more attainable because you will be more financially stable(even if it's still outlandishly expensive)

Are you out of your mind? Those numbers are in no way average! Can you cite your original source?

To the OP: general living standard in bay area is third world like compared to Dallas/Houston.

[Hemlock140]

Most cannot be in poverty. The median is the income at which there are the same number of people making more than the median as there are making less. It's not the average. It tells you nothing about how many people are way over or way under the median, or if they are all close to the median. What you need it the number of people living there that make less than a living wage for that area, probably about $60k.

[Sovetsky Medved]

Im Just "Visiting" in poverty
Love this city. Love the weather.
But hell no, I could never afford to live here, not even over in Oakland.
I asked someone here in a restaurant, How they do it? He just said "Rent Control"
So it's either your in a rent controlled unit, have a house that's payed off, Or your the new Techie Rich. Not any room in this city for someone working in the service industry or manufacturing or general labor unless you shack up with a bunch of other people in a small apartment.
and I could never do that, I love living alone.
I live in Phoenix, Arizona and I live in a 1 Bedroom furnished apartment, the utilities are free as well as basic cable.
and there is a nice Pool to swim in and free parking, in a sort of eclectic arty/antique store neighborhood and I only pay $570 a month.
Try finding that here in San Francisco.

[Tulemutt]

Originally Posted by Sovetsky Medved

Im Just "Visiting" in poverty
Love this city. Love the weather.
But hell no, I could never afford to live here, not even over in Oakland.
I asked someone here in a restaurant, How they do it? He just said "Rent Control"
So it's either your in a rent controlled unit, have a house that's payed off, Or your the new Techie Rich. Not any room in this city for someone working in the service industry or manufacturing or general labor unless you shack up with a bunch of other people in a small apartment.
and I could never do that, I love living alone.
I live in Phoenix, Arizona and I live in a 1 Bedroom furnished apartment, the utilities are free as well as basic cable.
and there is a nice Pool to swim in and free parking, in a sort of eclectic arty/antique store neighborhood and I only pay $570 a month.
Try finding that here in San Francisco.

Hmmmm I don't own nor live with rent control and I have two waterfront residences for less than $500 monthly combined. One in the Marina district SF. The other suburban

[Ceece]

Originally Posted by Sovetsky Medved

Im Just "Visiting" in poverty
Love this city. Love the weather.
But hell no, I could never afford to live here, not even over in Oakland.
I asked someone here in a restaurant, How they do it? He just said "Rent Control"
So it's either your in a rent controlled unit, have a house that's payed off, Or your the new Techie Rich. Not any room in this city for someone working in the service industry or manufacturing or general labor unless you shack up with a bunch of other people in a small apartment.
and I could never do that, I love living alone.
I live in Phoenix, Arizona and I live in a 1 Bedroom furnished apartment, the utilities are free as well as basic cable.
and there is a nice Pool to swim in and free parking, in a sort of eclectic arty/antique store neighborhood and I only pay $570 a month.
Try finding that here in San Francisco.

I don't think people are looking to find Phoenix in San Francisco.

[Leo3]

Originally Posted by andyadhi01

Are you out of your mind? Those numbers are in no way average! Can you cite your original source?

To the OP: general living standard in bay area is third world like compared to Dallas/Houston.

They can be average. Average and median are two completely different things though as averages can be greatly skew by a few rich people. Such people compromise a tiny percentage of San Francisco.