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Moving to
San Marino.
The Census tops out at $3,500+ for rent and $2,000,000+ for home value; it doesn't publish exact figures above those.
What it's like to live in San Marino
San Marino is a small city in California with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. San Marino deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, county unemployment above the national average, and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Above-average unemployment in the county
- Air quality concerns
- Shrinking population
- High student-teacher ratio
How San Marino compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
The Census tops out at $3,500+ for rent; it doesn't publish exact figures above that.
Median home value
The Census tops out at $2,000,000+ for home value; it doesn't publish exact figures above that.
What it takes to move to San Marino
Based on San Marino's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$7,002
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $140,040 a year
- 41% of San Marino renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$400,000
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $200,000
- Homes cost 9.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingCensus top category
$3,500+/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $3,500+ a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $2,000,000+. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $2,000,000+ · 41% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
5.7% county unemployment
Unemployment in Los Angeles County is 5.7%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Los Angeles County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 82% below US
58 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1814/100k · San Marino Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
27 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 26.6 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 28% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 88°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 45°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 129% above US
83% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (38 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
San Marino's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (28% of workers here already work from home), and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and anyone moving without a job lined up.
Other places near San Marino
All California guides →Moving to East San Gabriel →
2 mi away · pop. 23,410
Rent $1,976/mo · Income $108,677
Compare with San Marino →Moving to San Gabriel →
2 mi away · pop. 38,392
Rent $1,915/mo · Income $90,488
Compare with San Marino →Moving to South Pasadena →
3 mi away · pop. 26,068
Rent $2,284/mo · Income $127,175
Compare with San Marino →Not sure San Marino is the one?
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