Updated May 2026 · Redfin
San Francisco vs Seattle: real estate market, May 2026
A side-by-side housing-market snapshot for San Francisco, CA and Seattle, WA for May 2026: Seattle at a $901K median versus $1.77M in San Francisco, plus days on market and the buyer-vs-seller balance, straight from the Redfin Data Center.
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $1.77M ▲ +14.6% | $901K ▲ +0.7% |
| Days on market | 16 ▼ -15.8% | 11 ▲ +10.0% |
| Homes for sale | 925 ▼ -33.7% | 2,111 ▼ -3.2% |
| Sale-to-list | 115.6% ▲ +8.7% | 100.8% • 0.0% |
| Months of supply | 1.6 ▼ -42.9% | 2.6 • 0.0% |
| Homes sold | 561 ▲ +11.1% | 799 ▼ -5.0% |
Figures from Redfin Data Center. Verify against your MLS before posting.
The verdict
As of May 2026, Seattle is the more affordable of the two at a $901,000 median sale price, about 49% below San Francisco ($1,770,000). Seattle is the faster-moving market, with homes going under contract in about 11 days versus 16 in San Francisco.
Which market fits your client?
For a buyer client, Seattle offers a little more breathing room, with 2.6 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 +0.7% year over year).
How we compare these markets
We built LOKAL to pull San Francisco's and Seattle's numbers straight from the Redfin Data Center, so an agent and a client compare like for like. For May 2026 we recorded a $901K median in Seattle and a $1.77M median in San Francisco, against roughly $895K 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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LOKAL builds the finished carousel, story and square, with these Redfin figures already in place, for San Francisco or Seattle.
Full San Francisco and Seattle market updates
Frequently asked
- Is San Francisco or Seattle more affordable?
- As of May 2026, Seattle is the more affordable market at a $901,000 median sale price, about 49% below San Francisco ($1,770,000), per the Redfin Data Center.
- Which market moves faster, San Francisco or Seattle?
- Seattle moves faster: a typical listing goes under contract in about 11 days, versus 16 days in San Francisco (May 2026).
- Is San Francisco or Seattle better for buyers right now?
- Seattle gives buyers a little more room, with 2.6 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 San Francisco and Seattle 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 San Francisco comparisons
Data: Redfin · Redfin Data Center. Figures are metro-level snapshots, not valuations for a specific home.