The wealth of Richmond

Walking south along Arguello Boulevard in the Presidio eventually brings travelers along side the Presidio Golf Course. One of the most beautiful golf courses in San Francisco, with well maintained greens and fully grown cypress tress lining the holes. The course became public when the federal government handed over the former military base to the California Park service.

Though it is not expensive itself to play at the Presidio golf course, costing only $12 per golfer, the amount of money that people have around the course is apparent. Taking a quick look at the two Bentleys that are parked in the course lot establishes that there is considerable wealth playing out on the Presidio’s greens.

It is no surprise either if you keep going down Arguello Boulevard appears Presidio Terrace. A small gated community of homes that rest along side the golf course. The homes are over a hundred years old and date their construction back to the 1906 earthquake.

The size and scale of the homes makes them stand out compared to those of the immediate surrounding area. Though the homes in this northern part of the Richmond district are not as large as those in Presidio Terrace they are not small and are not cheep either. The average sale price of a home in Richmond is over $800,000 and the average household income is over $90,000. Compared to a citywide average home cost of just under $400,000 and a average household income of approximately $55,000 it becomes obvious of the wealth that resides in the Richmond district.

Added to the fact that the Richmond district is mostly family based it adds up to a fairly quiet community. There is relatively low crime statistically compared to the rest of the city and it becomes apparent in the fact that there is very little police presence.