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Living in
San Rafael.
About
Life in San Rafael
San Rafael offers a genuinely pleasant living environment if you can afford the North Bay price tag—expect a median home value around $1.2 million and median rent near $2,350 monthly. The job market is solid with a 3.9% unemployment rate and a diverse economy anchored by biotech (BioMarin), banking, and creative industries, though the tech scene that once defined the city has largely moved to San Francisco. Weather-wise, you're looking at mild winters rarely dropping below freezing and warm, dry summers with just 32 inches of annual rain concentrated between November and April—plan for occasional heat waves but generally pleasant conditions.
San Rafael at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
43.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
11.7%
Foreign-Born
28.3%
Broadband Internet
94.6%
of households
Population Growth
-3.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics28.3% foreign-born, most often from Guatemala
Who lives in San Rafael: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In San Rafael, the largest foreign-born group is from Guatemala (32.2%), and 28.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.7%
of residents
65 and Older
20.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.8%
of households
Married Couples
46.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.54
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 17% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in San Rafael
In San Rafael, rent runs 17% above the CA average, and home values are 85% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
56.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
32.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
115.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
53.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1968
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,313,734 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.6 pts below CA average
Unemployment in San Rafael
Unemployment in San Rafael is 1.6 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What San Rafael Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute25.3 min avg
How San Rafael residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In San Rafael, most residents drive alone to work (48%), and 65% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 24 mi
Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK)
Medium hub4.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 26 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 11% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in San Rafael runs 11% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
365.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,042.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
San Rafael 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 San Rafael, 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.
241 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 San Rafael, is typically good.
Median AQI
21
Marin County, county-wide
Climate80°F summers, 43°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
San Rafael has warm summers (avg high 80°F) and mild winters (avg low 43°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
68°/48°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/55°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
73°/51°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
58°/43°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
34.5"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
20
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
3
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
69
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57°F | 43°F | 7.13" |
| Feb | 61°F | 44°F | 6.94" |
| Mar | 65°F | 46°F | 4.42" |
| Apr | 68°F | 48°F | 1.99" |
| May | 72°F | 51°F | 0.94" |
| Jun | 78°F | 54°F | 0.15" |
| Jul | 81°F | 55°F | 0.00" |
| Aug | 81°F | 56°F | 0.05" |
| Sep | 81°F | 54°F | 0.07" |
| Oct | 75°F | 51°F | 1.46" |
| Nov | 65°F | 46°F | 3.49" |
| Dec | 57°F | 42°F | 7.81" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in San Rafael
San Rafael has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Kaiser Foundation Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Marinhealth Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.9 mi away · Greenbrae
Novato Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.5 mi away · Novato
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South San Francisco
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.6 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.
Education20.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in San Rafael
San Rafael's student/teacher ratio is 20.1:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 49.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
15
within city limits
Private Schools
7
within city limits
College Degree Rate
49.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
20.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in San Rafael
Dominican University of California
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,114 students · in-state tuition $53,700 · 76% graduate · median earnings $90,053 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
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)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 637 students · in-state tuition $26,800 · 88% graduate
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 259 students · 43% graduate · median earnings $90,346 (10 yrs after entry)
San Francisco Conservatory of Music
15 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 226 students · in-state tuition $58,150 · 63% graduate · median earnings $47,172 (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, 7 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for San Rafael
San Rafael has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Muir Woods National Monument (7 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Muir Woods National Monument
National Monument
7 mi awayRosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
9 mi awayGolden Gate National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
10 mi awayAlcatraz Island
National Park Site
12 mi awayFort Point National Historic Site
National Historic Site
12 mi awayPresidio of San Francisco
National Park Site
13 mi awaySan Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
13 mi awayJohn Muir National Historic Site
National Historic Site
20 mi awayPublic Libraries in San Rafael
Marin County Law Library
20 N. San Pedro Rd. Ste. 2007, San Rafael
San Rafael Public Library
1100 E St., San Rafael
Civic Center Library
3501 Civic Center Dr, #427, San Rafael
Northgate Pop-Up Library
5800 Northgate Drive, San Rafael
Pickleweed Library
50 Canal St., San Rafael
Cities Near San Rafael
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to San Rafael?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
San Rafael FAQ
Is San Rafael, California affordable?⌄
San Rafael's median rent is $2,377/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $119,435/year. Median home value is $1,355,600.
Is San Rafael, California safe?⌄
San Rafael's violent crime rate was 365 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2043 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in San Rafael, California?⌄
San Rafael has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in San Rafael, California?⌄
The cost of living in San Rafael is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,377/month and median household income is $119,435/year. The median home value is $1,355,600. About 57% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in San Rafael, California?⌄
The average commute in San Rafael 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