San Francisco, a city known for its innovation and affluence, continues to grapple with deep socioeconomic divides in 2025.
The poverty level, also known as the poverty line or poverty threshold, is a measure used to determine the minimum level of income a person or family needs to meet basic living expenses—like food, shelter, and clothing. In the United States, this threshold is set each year by the U.S. Census Bureau and is based on household size.
For example, in 2025, the poverty threshold for a single individual might be around $15,000–$16,000 per year, while for a family of four, it could be closer to $30,000–$35,000, depending on exact guidelines and adjustments.
A poverty level of 20% in a ZIP code means that 20% of the population in that area lives below the federal poverty threshold. It doesn’t just indicate low income—it often reflects limited access to quality housing, education, healthcare, and employment opportunities.
Recent data on poverty levels across the city’s ZIP codes reveal dramatic disparities, reflecting the complex and uneven economic landscape that defines the city.
At the top of the list is ZIP code 94130, which includes Treasure Island, registering the highest poverty rate at 40.1%—double the next highest rate. This area, long associated with transitional housing and limited infrastructure, remains an outlier in a city where the median income is among the highest in the nation.
Close behind are several central neighborhoods: 94102 (Tenderloin) at 20.1%, 94104 (Financial District) at 19.7%, and 94103 (SoMa) at 18.8%. These areas are a mix of high-rise wealth and persistent poverty, with affordable housing units often sitting beside luxury developments.
By contrast, some of the city’s wealthiest neighborhoods have remarkably low poverty levels. ZIP code 94129, covering the Presidio, shows a poverty rate of just 2.4%, the lowest in the city. Similarly affluent areas like 94127 (St. Francis Wood), 94105 (Rincon Hill), and 94114 (Castro/Noe Valley) report rates between 5.0% and 5.4%.
Middle-tier neighborhoods such as the Sunset District (94122 at 7.8%) and Inner Richmond (94118 at 6.6%) reflect moderate poverty levels, often tied to stable, multi-generational immigrant communities and greater access to homeownership.
