San Francisco is known for many things. In a past life, we were a proudly weird city. In our current iteration, we are - allegedly - a contradiction. Naysayers call us a "dying city" or a "failed state." Others - those I would dub more reasonable - note that SF is at the center of technological progress as the AI capital of the world. They might also acknowledge that we are surrounded by beautiful architecture, and that we have top-notch access to healthcare, nature, events, and some of the world's most recognizable landmarks. Whether you are a biased lover of San Francisco as I am or you are one of our numerous - likely jealous - haters, you probably did not think that a city of 'freaks' and techies would be making rounds on lists of the most friendly areas. Nonetheless, San Francisco was recognized as the #8 most friendly city in the world in 2023 research conducted by secondary language tutoring company Preply. "Not only does [San Francisco] have a visitor return rate of 15%, it's known for being LGBTQ+ friendly and has an equality score of 82 to prove it," wrote Business Insider shortly after the release by Preply.
In an unrelated report, we got another nod for having one of the top 10 most friendly neighborhoods in the USA, according to December research from All Star Home. In fact, San Francisco had the ninth most neighborhoods on the list of The Friendliest Neighborhoods in America, in general.
Number of "Friendliest" Neighborhoods per City
Source: All Star Home
Nonetheless, the quest to identify America's most amicable urban enclaves has crowned Seattle's Magnolia neighborhood as the gold standard in neighborliness. According to the recent study by All Star Home, Magnolia boasts high rates of user-reported 'friendliness' at businesses in the area. Houston's Kingwood and Highland in Saint Paul, Minnesota, round out the top three positions, suggesting that friendliness might thrum in America's heartland just as much, if not more than, in its sprawling metropolises.
West Coast cities made a significant showing with six out of the top ten "friendliest" neighborhoods, including San Francisco's Outer Sunset, which made its own splash as the only "Super Friendly" neighborhood in the city. Despite the robust showing of Western neighborhoods, the data reveals that friendliness spans far and wide - from Tribeca's cosmopolitan charm in New York standing out amidst a city known for its brisk pace, to Bel Air's open arms in Los Angeles. According to the study, this illustrates a universally warm spirit threading through America’s urban tapestry.
Number of "Super Friendly" Neighborhoods per City
Source: All Star Home
Hoodline's compilation of the local San Francisco data paints a friendly face, but on a less vibrant canvas. While San Francisco climbed to rank nine in terms of sheer numbers for "Friendliest Neighborhoods in America," with four neighborhoods considered "Friendly," it falls short by most of its neighborhoods not landing on the list at all. Only the Outer Sunset neighborhood has earned the higher status of "Super Friendly."
The West Coast's good vibes remain intact with Houston, Portland, and Colorado Springs each housing an impressive clutch of "Super Friendly" neighborhoods, according to All Star Home's research.
Number of "Friendly" Neighborhoods per City
("Super Friendly" Cities Not Included)
Source: All Star Home
Yet the study, undeniably upbeat as it may be, must also be criticized for it imperfections in its methodology. The limitation of focusing solely on the presence of the word "friendly" in reviews may not capture the full spectrum of a community's sociability or the quality of the service provided. Regardless, it did include a funny side note that the Mission District is San Francisco’s only "Semi-Friendly" neighborhood, suggesting a gradient of cordiality that may leave some residents pondering the metrics of neighborly charm.
Number of "Semi-Friendly" Neighborhoods per City
Source: All Star Home
