San Francisco Neighborhood
Is Japantown a Safe Place to Live? Housing, Crime & Buyer Guide
Explore safety, home prices, commute patterns, and neighborhood insights in San Francisco, CA - so you can decide with confidence before buying or renting.
Most buyers only see the home. Smart buyers check the neighborhood first.
Crime Summary:
Crime Overview (last 12 months)
Severe5067
Medium3816
Low3940
Other18646
315 Registered Offenders Nearby
Rape86
Child involved197
Assault52
Other40
Crime Details:
Recent reported incidents in the past 12 months (newest first). Up to 10 records.
| Crime date | Crime description | Address | Crime category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 16, 2026 | As discussed during the dispatch call, emergency medical services responding to a possible fainting incident near Folsom and Mabini Street. | Folsom St & Mabini St, San Francisco, CA 94103 | Medical Emergency |
| Jul 16, 2026 | As discussed during the dispatch call, fire units were dispatched to a reported commercial building alarm near Mission Street between Julia Street and Eighth Street in San Francisco. | Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103 | Fire |
| Jul 16, 2026 | As discussed during the dispatch call, dispatch received a text-to-911 report of a white Nissan Altima driving without headlights near Columbus Avenue and Vallejo Street, reportedly heading toward the pier past Taylor Street with two occupants who may be intoxicated. | Columbus Ave & Vallejo St, San Francisco, CA 94133 | Traffic |
| Jul 16, 2026 | As discussed during the dispatch call, officers were dispatched to a priority audible alarm, possibly related to a disturbance, near Jefferson Street and a cross street identified as Richard Henry in San Francisco. | Jefferson St, San Francisco, CA 94109 | Disturbance |
| Jul 16, 2026 | As discussed during the dispatch call, emergency units were dispatched for a possible trauma incident near Powell Street and Embarcadero North. Engine 2, Truck 2, and an ambulance responded on Control 1. | Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94133 | Medical Emergency |
| Jul 16, 2026 | As discussed during the dispatch call, dispatch received a report of possible smoke on the BART platform at Powell Street in San Francisco, with fire units and medics responding with lights and sirens. | Powell St, 899 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94103 | Fire |
| Jul 16, 2026 | As discussed during the dispatch call, dispatch reports a possible smoke condition on the Powell Street transit platform and a separate injury where a woman apparently fell off a Lime scooter near Powell Street. Medics are responding with lights and sirens. | Powell St, San Francisco, CA | Traffic |
| Jul 16, 2026 | As discussed during the dispatch call, emergency crews, including a fire truck and an ambulance unit, were dispatched for a possible trauma-related medical emergency near Powell Street in San Francisco. | Powell St, San Francisco, CA | Medical Emergency |
| Jul 16, 2026 | As discussed during the dispatch call, emergency crews are dispatched for a possible trauma medical emergency near Powell Street and Market Street, with a fire truck and an ambulance responding code 3. | Market St & Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94102 | Medical Emergency |
| Jul 16, 2026 | As discussed during the dispatch call, a possible medical emergency involving a female who fell while riding a lime scooter near Powell Street and Embarcadero North. | Powell St & The Embarcadero N, San Francisco, CA 94133 | Medical Emergency |
For all crime details - View Safety Report
Median Home Price
$2,173,315
Average Rent
$3,205
Vacancy Rate
5.4%
Overview
Japantown is a densely urban neighborhood in San Francisco with a predominance of large apartment buildings and a high concentration of small living spaces. Most housing is renter occupied.
The neighborhood has a high rate of residents working from home and a strong executive and professional workforce, with a significant share of residents living alone.
High DensityRenter DominatedLarge Apartment BuildingsHigh Work-from-Home
Quick Facts
| Renter Occupied | 92.9% |
|---|
Housing market and real estate character
Japantown's housing is overwhelmingly renter occupied, dominated by large apartment complexes and high-rises, with a high proportion of small units.
| Large Apartment Buildings | 85.3% |
|---|---|
| Small Units (1-2 bedrooms) | 86.2% |
| Vacancy Rate | 5.4% |
What buyers will notice right away
Most housing units are renter occupied, with few owner-occupied homes.
The neighborhood is dominated by large apartment buildings and high-rises.
A very high share of units are studios or one to two bedrooms.
Families & Lifestyle
Japantown has a high proportion of residents living alone and a strong presence of executives and professionals.
Single Residents — More than half of households are single-person, reflecting a lifestyle for singles or seniors.
Executive Professionals — A large share of residents work in executive, management, or professional roles.
| People Living Alone | 56.0% |
|---|---|
| Executive/Professional Employment | 76.0% |
Demographics
| Executive/Professional Share | 76.0% |
|---|---|
| Income Level | Above average |
| Child Poverty Rate | 13.7% |
| Foreign Born Residents | 37.6% |
| Top Languages | ["English (58.5%)","Spanish","Chinese","Japanese","Korean"] |
| Top Ancestries | ["Asian (32.9%)","German (8.9%)","Mexican (6.9%)","English (5.6%)","Russian (5.3%)","Iranian (2.8%)","Lithuanian (2.1%)"] |
Commute
Japantown residents have short commutes with high bus and train ridership and a significant share working from home.
Japantown offers excellent transit options with high bus and train use and a strong work-from-home population.
High Transit Use — Bus and train ridership are among the highest nationally.
Remote Work — Over one-third of residents work from home.
Short Commutes — Most residents commute 15 to 30 minutes.
| Work From Home Rate | 35.4% |
|---|---|
| Bus Commute Rate | 16.8% |
| Train Commute Rate | 10.3% |
| Drive Alone Rate | 23.7% |
| Walk Commute Rate | 10.7% |
| Typical Commute Time | 15-30 minutes |
Homes for sale near 94115
For-sale listings in this zip code. Open a property in HoodScore to run a safety report.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the housing like in Japantown?
Mostly large apartment buildings and high-rises with a high share of small units.
How common is working from home?
35.4% of residents work from home, higher than 97.7% of U.S. neighborhoods.
What transit options are popular?
Bus and train ridership are very high, with 16.8% and 10.3% respectively.