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Living in
Mill Valley.
The Census tops out at $2,000,000+ for home value; it doesn't publish exact figures above that.
About
Life in Mill Valley
This small Marin County town of about 14,000 people feels more like a well-established community for the already-established than a place designed for newcomers breaking in. With a median household income of $206,212 and median home values topping $2 million, Mill Valley attracts affluent professionals and families willing to pay top dollar for proximity to San Francisco (just 14 miles away via the Golden Gate Bridge) combined with actual wilderness at your doorstep—literally thousands of acres of protected parkland, redwood forests, and Mt. Tamalpais trails that wrap around town.
Mill Valley at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
48.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.9%
Foreign-Born
18.6%
Broadband Internet
96.6%
of households
Population Growth
-3.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics18.6% foreign-born, most often from Thailand
Who lives in Mill Valley: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Mill Valley, the largest foreign-born group is from Thailand (9.7%), and 4.5% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
18.6%
of residents
65 and Older
23.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
26.4%
of households
Married Couples
53.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.45
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 61% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Mill Valley
In Mill Valley, rent runs 61% above the CA average, and home values are 172% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
37.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
115.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
66.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1958
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $2,178,610 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.3 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Mill Valley
Unemployment in Marin County, which includes Mill Valley, is 1.3 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Mill Valley: Marin County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Marin County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Mill Valley Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24.8 min avg
How Mill Valley residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Mill Valley, most residents drive alone to work (49%), and 65% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 22 mi
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Major hub26.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 85% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Mill Valley runs 85% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
50.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
795.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Mill Valley Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 14 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Marin County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Marin County, which includes Mill Valley, the most common type is strong wind, with 14 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14 | High Wind | $10 |
| 2024 | 19 | Flood | $40 |
| 2023 | 16 | High Wind | $20 |
| 2022 | 9 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 21 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 21 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 54 | Strong Wind | $10,800 |
| 2018 | 17 | Flood | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
249 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Marin County, county-wide
Air Quality21 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Marin County, which includes Mill Valley, is typically good.
Median AQI
21
Marin County, county-wide
Climate82°F summers, 42°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Mill Valley has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and mild winters (avg low 42°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
69°/47°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/53°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
74°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
58°/42°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
36.2"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
27
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
5
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
96
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57°F | 42°F | 8.77" |
| Feb | 61°F | 43°F | 8.72" |
| Mar | 65°F | 44°F | 6.00" |
| Apr | 69°F | 46°F | 2.61" |
| May | 74°F | 50°F | 1.40" |
| Jun | 80°F | 52°F | 0.36" |
| Jul | 83°F | 53°F | 0.00" |
| Aug | 83°F | 54°F | 0.05" |
| Sep | 82°F | 53°F | 0.09" |
| Oct | 76°F | 50°F | 1.98" |
| Nov | 64°F | 45°F | 4.63" |
| Dec | 56°F | 42°F | 9.78" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Mill Valley
Uninsured
3.7%
of residents
No hospitals inside Mill Valley's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Marinhealth Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.7 mi away · Greenbrae
Kaiser Foundation Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.6 mi away · San Rafael
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South San Francisco
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.8 mi away · South San Francisco
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education19.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Mill Valley
Mill Valley's student/teacher ratio is 19.3:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 75.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
75.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Mill Valley (within 15 miles)
San Francisco State University
13.4 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 18,639 students · in-state tuition $8,324 · 67% graduate · median earnings $73,299 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,287 students · in-state tuition $62,462 · 75% graduate · median earnings $94,613 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 5,203 students · in-state tuition $1,128 · 22% graduate · median earnings $45,857 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 3,587 students · in-state tuition $32,224 · 25% graduate · median earnings $44,567 (10 yrs after entry)
Dominican University of California
5.3 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 1,114 students · in-state tuition $53,700 · 76% graduate · median earnings $90,053 (10 yrs after entry)
California College of the Arts
12.5 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 990 students · in-state tuition $61,764 · 73% graduate · median earnings $58,957 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Muir Woods National Monument, 2 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Mill Valley
Mill Valley has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Muir Woods National Monument (2 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Muir Woods National Monument
National Monument
2 mi awayGolden Gate National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
5 mi awayFort Point National Historic Site
National Historic Site
8 mi awayAlcatraz Island
National Park Site
9 mi awayPresidio of San Francisco
National Park Site
9 mi awaySan Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
9 mi awayRosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
10 mi awayPoint Reyes National Seashore
National Seashore
21 mi awayPublic Libraries in Mill Valley
Mill Valley Public Library
375 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley
Cities Near Mill Valley
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Mill Valley?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Mill Valley FAQ
Is Mill Valley, California affordable?⌄
Mill Valley's median rent is $3,278/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $206,212/year. Median home value is $2,000,000+.
Is Mill Valley, California safe?⌄
Mill Valley's violent crime rate was 51 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 795 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Mill Valley, California?⌄
Marin County, which includes Mill Valley, has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Mill Valley, California?⌄
The cost of living in Mill Valley is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $3,278/month and median household income is $206,212/year. The median home value is $2,000,000+. About 37% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Mill Valley, California?⌄
The average commute in Mill Valley is 25 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from