Bedroom counts offer one way to compare the Bay Area’s housing stock, but they tell a different story from home prices. A San Francisco Chronicle analysis of federal data found that the region’s highest average bedroom counts are in suburban communities such as Diablo and Atherton, where homes average more than four bedrooms.
The San Francisco Chronicle analyzed U.S. Census American Community Survey data on bedroom counts across Bay Area ZIP codes with more than 250 homes. Reporter Danielle Echeverria, who covers data for the paper and joined the Chronicle in 2021, found that average bedroom counts tend to be higher farther from San Francisco, particularly in the East Bay and far down the Peninsula.
The Chronicle’s analysis found a relationship between wealthier locations and higher average bedroom counts. Diablo, northeast of Danville, and Atherton both average more than four bedrooms per home. The American Community Survey asks residents how many bedrooms their homes have; that measure is distinct from the number of rooms.
Where the Bay Area’s bedroom counts are highest
The Chronicle found that suburban ZIP codes generally have higher average bedroom counts than San Francisco ZIP codes, with top results concentrated in Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties. Los Altos, Saratoga and Danville, as well as San Jose’s Almaden neighborhood, were among the places with large homes in the analysis…