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City · 60,433 residents · Marin County, California

San Rafael , California

In San Rafael, a typical home is worth $1,355,600 and typical rent is $2,377 a month. Compared with all of Marin County, typical household income is 20% lower, typical rent is 11% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 12 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $1,355,600

    10% below the county

    85% above California

    • San Rafael
    • Marin
    • California

  • Typical rent

    $2,377a month

    11% below the county

    17% above California

    • San Rafael
    • Marin
    • California

  • Typical household income

    $119,435a year

    20% below the county

    20% above California

    • San Rafael
    • Marin
    • California

  • Households that own their home

    53%

    12 points below the county

    3 points below California

    • San Rafael
    • Marin
    • California

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$1,313,734
3% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$3,166 a month
4.2% more than 12 months ago

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

San Rafael 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 San Rafael apart

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

  1. The typical household income in San Rafael is $119,435, 20% less than in Marin County as a whole ($149,091).

  2. 53% of households in San Rafael own their home, against 65% in Marin County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in San Rafael

What homes there are in San Rafael, 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

In San Rafael there is a bit of everything: no kind of home reaches half. The most common are detached houses (48%); in Marin County, 63%.

Year built

By age, homes in San Rafael look like those in Marin County: the typical year built is 1968.

Homes in San Rafael are smaller: 48% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Marin County, 59%.

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

Without a mortgage

$1,347 a month

Marin County: $1,315 a month

Owners with a mortgage

66%

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

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in San Rafael rose 47%; in Marin County, it rose 51%.

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in San Rafael rose 23%, less than in Marin County (29%).

To compare: typical income in San Rafael rose 30%; the home, +47%; the rent, +23%.

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

MeasureSan RafaelMarin 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 10.0%4.4%8.2%3.4%
People per household 2.542.442.842.53
Drive alone 48%52%66%69%
Carpool 13%7%10%9%
Public transit 6%4%3%3%
Walk or bike 5%5%3%3%
Work from home 26%32%17%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

More households are short on space in San Rafael: 10.0% have more than one person per room; in Marin County, 4.4%.

A household in San Rafael has 2.54 people on average, about the same as in Marin County (2.44).

More people carpool to work in San Rafael than in Marin County: 13% against 7%.

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 San Rafael?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in San Rafael, worth $1,355,600, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 113% of the typical household income in San Rafael, which is $119,435 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $481,515 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 San Rafael. 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 $47,446 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

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

$11,235

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$1,331,047
Total interest
$1,915,064
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $22,893 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,787 a month

  • Tight

    $2,787 to $3,583 a month

  • Hard

    more than $3,583 a month

    Your payment · 113%

Compared with the typical household income in San Rafael ($119,435 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$11,235
Principal & interest$9,017
Property tax$836
Home insurance$565
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$818

This loan is over the FHA limit

You'd borrow $1,308,154, but the FHA limit for a one-unit home in San Rafael is $1,249,125. You'd need a bigger down payment or a different loan.

You need at least $47,446 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

San Rafael and Marin County

San Rafael 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).

San Rafael's own numbers

Typical home value
$1,355,600
Typical monthly rent
$2,377
Typical yearly household income
$119,435
Households that own their home
53%
Effective property tax rate
0.74%

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 San Rafael

A typical home in San Rafael is worth $1,355,600: 10% below the county and 85% above California. With the typical household income in San Rafael ($119,435 a year), a typical home costs 11.4 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.

  • San Rafael 11.4 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

San Rafael 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
  • San Rafael $1,355,600
  • Marin $1,507,300
  • California $734,700
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • San Rafael $2,377
  • Marin $2,668
  • California $2,036
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • San Rafael $119,435
  • Marin $149,091
  • California $99,122
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
San Rafael next to Marin County and California
Measure San Rafael Marin County California U.S.
Typical home value $1,355,600 $1,507,300 $734,700 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $2,377 $2,668 $2,036 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $119,435 $149,091 $99,122 $80,734
Households that own their home 53% 65% 56% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $10,001 $10,001 $5,124 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.74% 0.66% 0.7% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 58% 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 San Rafael

For a typical $1,355,600 home in San Rafael, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, San Rafael's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $11,235a month

    Above the FHA limit for Marin County ($1,249,125)
    Down payment
    $47,446
    Cash to close
    $88,114
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $818

  • Conventional, 5% down $10,769a month

    Above the conventional limit for Marin County ($1,249,125): it would be a "jumbo" loan
    Down payment
    $67,780
    Cash to close
    $108,448
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $644

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $8,747a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $271,120
    Cash to close
    $311,788
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $10,001a month

    Down payment
    $203,340
    Cash to close
    $244,008
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is Conventional, 20% down, no PMI.

  • 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 San Rafael and for Marin County.

Property tax

Effective rate in San Rafael

0.74%of the home’s value each year

$10,001 a year for the typical owner in San Rafael.

  • San Rafael 0.74%
  • 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 San Rafael

Typical rent in San Rafael is $2,377 a month: 11% below the county. In San Rafael, 58% 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 San Rafael

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). San Rafael has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $3,250 in 94901 to $4,350 in 94903.

1 of the 2 is above the fair market rent for Marin County ($3,697).

  • 94901 $3,250$4,150
  • 94903 $4,350$5,690

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for San Rafael 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 San Rafael

HUD lists 16 buildings with rents for lower incomes in San Rafael. These are the largest.

  • San Rafael Commons 302 4th St, San Rafael 94901 83 low-income homes · Studio: 22 · 1 bd: 29 · In service since 2001 · For older adults (415) 459-4020
  • Rotary Valley Senior Housing 10 Jeannette Prandi Way, San Rafael 94903 80 low-income homes · In service since 1997 · For older adults
  • Parnow Friendship House 164 N San Pedro Rd, San Rafael 94903 72 low-income homes · For people with disabilities (415) 492-9340
  • Martinelli House 1327 Lincoln Ave, San Rafael 94901 66 homes, 64 low-income · Studio: 48 · 1 bd: 18 · In service since 2007 · For older adults (415) 830-3300
  • Maria B. Freitas Senior Housing 455 Manuel T Freitas Pkwy, San Rafael 94903 62 homes, 61 low-income · For older adults (415) 479-7581

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

Free help

Help to buy or rent in San Rafael

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 leans over the armchair where a girl is reading a book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in San Rafael

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for San Rafael or Marin County. The ones below are statewide in California: they work in San Rafael 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 San Rafael

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of San Rafael, 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 · 1 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 · 8 miles away · Spanish

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

  • Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc

    3220 Blume Dr Ste 198, Richmond · 10 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 3 more
    510-237-6459-1601

Every agency in Marin County All counseling agencies in California

Help in Spanish near San Rafael

2 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 San Rafael

HUD’s record names them for San Rafael 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 San Rafael, 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 San Rafael.

All guides
A father, a mother and their daughter smile among the avocado trees by their home in Somis, California.

Questions

Housing questions about San Rafael

Short answers with the numbers for San Rafael 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 San Rafael?

The typical home value in San Rafael is $1,355,600, 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 San Rafael?

Typical rent in San Rafael is $2,377 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 San Rafael?

San Rafael 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 San Rafael?

The typical homeowner in San Rafael pays $10,001 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.74% of the home’s value; in Marin County, the rate is 0.66%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in San Rafael?

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).