Updated May 2026 · Redfin
Oakland vs San Francisco: real estate market, May 2026
A side-by-side housing-market snapshot for Oakland, CA and San Francisco, CA for May 2026: Oakland at a $928K median versus $1.77M in San Francisco, plus days on market and the buyer-vs-seller balance, straight from the Redfin Data Center.
| Metric | Oakland, CA | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $928K ▲ +8.8% | $1.77M ▲ +14.6% |
| Days on market | 20 ▼ -13.0% | 16 ▼ -15.8% |
| Homes for sale | 691 ▼ -29.8% | 925 ▼ -33.7% |
| Sale-to-list | 113.7% ▲ +5.6% | 115.6% ▲ +8.7% |
| Months of supply | 2.7 ▼ -34.1% | 1.6 ▼ -42.9% |
| Homes sold | 252 ▲ +5.0% | 561 ▲ +11.1% |
Figures from Redfin Data Center. Verify against your MLS before posting.
The verdict
As of May 2026, Oakland is the more affordable of the two at a $927,500 median sale price, about 48% below San Francisco ($1,770,000). San Francisco is the faster-moving market, with homes going under contract in about 16 days versus 20 in Oakland.
Which market fits your client?
For a buyer client, Oakland offers a little more breathing room, with 2.7 months of supply against 1.6 in San Francisco, which usually means less bidding pressure. For a seller client, San Francisco is the tighter market, with a 115.6% sale-to-list ratio. On price momentum, San Francisco is appreciating faster (+14.6% vs +8.8% year over year).
How we compare these markets
We built LOKAL to pull Oakland's and San Francisco's numbers straight from the Redfin Data Center, so an agent and a client compare like for like. For May 2026 we recorded a $928K median in Oakland and a $1.77M median in San Francisco, against roughly $852K a year earlier in 2025. Redfin has published this market data monthly since 2020, which is what lets us show year-over-year change here in 2026. For complementary demographics on each metro — population, median household income — see the U.S. Census Bureau. LOKAL is independent and not affiliated with Redfin; always verify against your MLS before you publish.
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Full Oakland and San Francisco market updates
Frequently asked
- Is Oakland or San Francisco more affordable?
- As of May 2026, Oakland is the more affordable market at a $927,500 median sale price, about 48% below San Francisco ($1,770,000), per the Redfin Data Center.
- Which market moves faster, Oakland or San Francisco?
- San Francisco moves faster: a typical listing goes under contract in about 16 days, versus 20 days in Oakland (May 2026).
- Is Oakland or San Francisco better for buyers right now?
- Oakland gives buyers a little more room, with 2.7 months of supply versus 1.6 in San Francisco. More months of supply usually means less competition and more negotiating leverage for buyers.
- Where do these Oakland and San Francisco numbers come from?
- Both metros draw on the Redfin Data Center, refreshed monthly. LOKAL turns the figures into a ready-to-post carousel, story and square for either city. LOKAL is not affiliated with Redfin; always verify against your local MLS before quoting figures to clients.
More Oakland comparisons
Data: Redfin · Redfin Data Center. Figures are metro-level snapshots, not valuations for a specific home.