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City · 14,012 residents · Marin County, California

Mill Valley , California

In Mill Valley, a typical home is worth $2,000,001 and typical rent is $3,278 a month. Compared with all of Marin County, typical household income is 38% higher and the typical home value is 33% higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $2,000,001

    33% above the county

    172% above California

    • Mill Valley
    • Marin
    • California

  • Typical rent

    $3,278a month

    23% above the county

    61% above California

    • Mill Valley
    • Marin
    • California

  • Typical household income

    $206,212a year

    38% above the county

    108% above California

    • Mill Valley
    • Marin
    • California

  • Households that own their home

    66%

    2 points above the county

    10 points above California

    • Mill Valley
    • Marin
    • California

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$2,178,610
10.2% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$4,617 a month
8.8% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Mill Valley is in Marin County. The FHA loan limit ($1,249,125 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Marin County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Mill Valley apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Mill Valley has the highest typical home value of the 654 cities in California with more than 5,000 people: $2,000,001.

  2. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Mill Valley rose 10.2%; in California, it rose 0.6%.

  3. Mill Valley has the 26th smallest share of rent-burdened renters of the 616 cities in California with more than 5,000 people (39%).

  4. The typical household income in Mill Valley is $206,212, 38% more than in Marin County as a whole ($149,091).

  5. The typical rent in Mill Valley is $3,278 a month, 23% more than in Marin County as a whole ($2,668).

  6. Nearby, in Kentfield, the typical rent is $2,741: 16% less than in Mill Valley ($3,278).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Mill Valley

What homes there are in Mill Valley, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house rules in Mill Valley: 70% of homes, more than in Marin County (63%).

Year built

Homes in Mill Valley are older: the typical year built is 1958; in Marin County, 1967.

Much as in Marin County, 59% of homes in Mill Valley have 3 bedrooms or more.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

Owners with a mortgage

69%

Marin County: 67%

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Mill Valley rose 44%, more than in Marin County (29%).

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureMill ValleyMarin CountyCaliforniaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate3.8%4.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.8%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate4.4%8.2%3.4%
People per household 2.452.442.842.53
Drive alone 49%52%66%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate7%10%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate4%3%3%
Walk or bike 6%5%3%3%
Work from home 40%32%17%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Marin County, a household in Mill Valley has 2.45 people on average.

Many people here do not commute at all: 40% work from home; in Marin County, 32%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Mill Valley?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Mill Valley, worth $2,000,001, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 94% of the typical household income in Mill Valley, which is $206,212 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $693,267 a year. Note: at that price the loan is above the FHA limit for Marin County ($1,249,125), so FHA would not insure it; the payment is only a reference.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Marin County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Mill Valley. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $70,000 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This loan usually requires at least 3.5% down.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$16,176

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$1,963,776
Total interest
$2,825,413
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $33,775 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $4,812 a month

  • Tight

    $4,812 to $6,186 a month

  • Hard

    more than $6,186 a month

    Your payment · 94%

Compared with the typical household income in Mill Valley ($206,212 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$16,176
Principal & interest$13,303
Property tax$833
Home insurance$833
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$1,206

This loan is over the FHA limit

You'd borrow $1,930,001, but the FHA limit for a one-unit home in Mill Valley is $1,249,125. You'd need a bigger down payment or a different loan.

You need at least $70,000 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Mill Valley and Marin County

Mill Valley is in Marin County, California. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Mill Valley's own numbers

Typical home value
$2,000,001
Typical monthly rent
$3,278
Typical yearly household income
$206,212
Households that own their home
66%
Effective property tax rate
0.5%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Marin County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$1,249,125
Conventional limit, one unit
$1,249,125
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$3,697
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+25%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
12%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Marin County.

Everything about Marin County

Buying

Buying a home in Mill Valley

A typical home in Mill Valley is worth $2,000,001: 33% above the county and 172% above California. With the typical household income in Mill Valley ($206,212 a year), a typical home costs 9.7 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Mill Valley 9.7 years
  • Marin 10.1 years
  • California 7.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Marin County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Marin County rose 45% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Marin County.

Period County California U.S.
Last year (2025) −0.8% +0.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +25% +40% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +45% +80% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Mill Valley next to Marin County, California and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Mill Valley $2,000,001
  • Marin $1,507,300
  • California $734,700
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Mill Valley $3,278
  • Marin $2,668
  • California $2,036
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Mill Valley $206,212
  • Marin $149,091
  • California $99,122
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Mill Valley next to Marin County and California
Measure Mill Valley Marin County California U.S.
Typical home value $2,000,001 $1,507,300 $734,700 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $3,278 $2,668 $2,036 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $206,212 $149,091 $99,122 $80,734
Households that own their home 66% 65% 56% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $10,001 $10,001 $5,124 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.5% 0.66% 0.7% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 39% 56% 55% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Marin County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Mill Valley

For a typical $2,000,001 home in Mill Valley, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Mill Valley's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $16,176a month

    Above the FHA limit for Marin County ($1,249,125)
    Down payment
    $70,000
    Cash to close
    $130,000
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $1,206

  • Conventional, 5% down $15,488a month

    Above the conventional limit for Marin County ($1,249,125): it would be a "jumbo" loan
    Down payment
    $100,000
    Cash to close
    $160,000
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $950

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $12,506a month

    Above the conventional limit for Marin County ($1,249,125): it would be a "jumbo" loan
    Down payment
    $400,000
    Cash to close
    $460,000
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $14,355a month

    Down payment
    $300,000
    Cash to close
    $360,000
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None
  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Mill Valley and for Marin County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Mill Valley

0.5%of the home’s value each year

$10,001 a year for the typical owner in Mill Valley.

  • Mill Valley 0.5%
  • Marin 0.66%
  • California 0.7%

What California publishes Homeowners' exemption (California State Board of Equalization (BOE))

Exemptions and deadlines in California

Flood risk in Marin County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Marin County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
12%
9,823
Of those, with NFIP insurance
38%
County California U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 12% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 38% 31% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Mill Valley

Typical rent in Mill Valley is $3,278 a month: 23% above the county. In Mill Valley, 39% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Marin County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($3,697 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $71.10 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Marin County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $2,574 $49.50 $102,960
1 bedroom $3,003 $57.75 $120,120
2 bedrooms $3,697 $71.10 $147,880
3 bedrooms $4,832 $92.92 $193,280
4 bedrooms $5,439 $104.60 $217,560

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Mill Valley

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Mill Valley is in ZIP code 94941.

For 2 bedrooms it is $4,110: $413 more than the fair market rent for Marin County ($3,697).

  • 94941 $4,110$5,370

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Mill Valley when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Mill Valley

HUD lists 6 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Mill Valley. These are the largest.

  • Kruger Pines 47 N Knoll Rd, Mill Valley 94941 200 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of County of Marin · Average payment: $428 a month · Average wait: 19 months (415) 491-2525
  • Shelter Hill Apts 37 Miwok Way, Mill Valley 94941 75 homes, 65 low-income · 1 bd: 4 · 2 bd: 25 · 3 bd: 40 · In service since 2013 · For families (415) 383-1577
  • Redwoods II, The 40 Camino Alto, Mill Valley 94941 148 homes, 60 low-income · For older adults (415) 383-2741
  • Fireside Apts 115 Shoreline Hwy, Mill Valley 94941 50 homes, 49 low-income · Studio: 22 · 1 bd: 10 · 2 bd: 18 · In service since 2009
  • Camino Alto Apartments 260 Camino Alto Ct, Mill Valley 94941 24 low-income homes · For people with disabilities (415) 383-8328

See all 54 buildings in Marin County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Mill Valley

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Marin County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.

A man shakes hands with the specialist who helped him with his loan, in the kitchen of his new home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Mill Valley

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Mill Valley or Marin County. The ones below are statewide in California: they work in Mill Valley the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in California

  • MyHome Assistance Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers in California. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan

    Statewide in California

    Closed, per the source

    CalHFA down payment loan for first-generation buyers in California; when you sell, you repay the loan plus a share of the home's appreciation. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Shared appreciation

    See the program Official page

  • MyAccess Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers who use the CalPLUS Access mortgage (FHA or conventional). Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Mill Valley

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Mill Valley, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California

    851 Irwin St, San Rafael · 4 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 3 more
    (415) 457-5025

  • Community Housing Development Corporation of North Richmond

    1535 Fred Jackson Way Ste A, Richmond · 10 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    (510) 412-9290

  • San Francisco LGBT Community Center

    1800 Market St, San Francisco · 11 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in Mandarin Chinese.

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 5 more
    (415) 865-5555

Every agency in Marin County All counseling agencies in California

Help in Spanish near Mill Valley

3 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Mill Valley

HUD’s record names them for Mill Valley or Marin County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Housing Authority of County of Marin Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (415) 491-2525

All housing agencies in California Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Marin County

These cities are also in Marin County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Marin County Housing in California

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Mill Valley, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Marin County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Mill Valley.

All guides
A mother holding her baby watches her daughter blow bubbles outdoors.

Questions

Housing questions about Mill Valley

Short answers with the numbers for Mill Valley and all of Marin County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Mill Valley?

The typical home value in Mill Valley is $2,000,001, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Marin County it is $1,507,300.

How much does it cost to rent in Mill Valley?

Typical rent in Mill Valley is $3,278 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Marin County is $3,697.

What is the FHA loan limit in Mill Valley?

Mill Valley uses the FHA limit for all of Marin County (2026): $1,249,125 for a one-unit home and $2,402,625 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Mill Valley?

The typical homeowner in Mill Valley pays $10,001 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.5% of the home’s value; in Marin County, the rate is 0.66%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Mill Valley?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Marin County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).