A town of about 60,433 people in Marin County, part of the San Francisco area. Resident comments and photos are about San Rafael; job numbers cover the wider area.
The San Francisco area:Tech hub · Tech jobs 2.3x the U.S. share
Everyday life
Shops, cafes, and daily routines
Hobbies & activities
Trails, parks, and pastimes
Nearby scenery
Lakes, overlooks, and drives
Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.
Of about 11,031 rented homes in San Rafael, 33% rent for under $2,000 a month and 73% for under $3,000.
Under $1,000: 11%
$1,000 to $1,499: 6%
$1,500 to $1,999: 16%
$2,000 to $2,499: 25%
$2,500 to $2,999: 15%
$3,000 or more: 27%
Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.
What moving costs
Hiring movers
Average cost: $1,946
From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.
Moving in as a renter
The middle rented home in San Rafael rents for $2,000 to $2,499 a month. First month plus a one-month deposit comes to about $4,000 to $4,998 before you get the keys.
Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.
7,208 students · 22.6 students per teacher · 15 schools · grades K to 12
NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For test results and programs, see each district's site and your state's school report card.
The facts behind it
Typical home value
$1,123,193
What a typical home sells for across the San Francisco area.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index, August 2026
Cost of living
About 16% above the U.S. average
Everyday prices (rent, groceries, services) run about $116 here for what costs $100 nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis price index 115.6 (U.S. = 100), 2024
Drive to the nearest big job hub
About 40 min at rush hour
To downtown San Francisco, CA, 18 miles. About 38 min with no traffic.
Source: Google traffic estimate for a weekday morning around 8am
Average commute
32 minutes one way
How long residents' trips to work take on average, counting every job and way of getting there. U.S. average: about 27 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Data centers nearby
2 within 15 miles
The nearest is about 14.9 miles from the town center (Digital Realty). The largest is about 39,000 sq ft.
Source: PNNL IM3 Data Center Atlas, from OpenStreetMap (ODbL), loaded July 2026
Homeowners insurance
About $1,616 a year
The statewide average for a typical policy in CA. Your own quote will depend on the home.
Source: Statewide estimate, 2026
Natural disaster risk
Relatively High
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Median household income
$142,785
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
0.72% of home value a year
About $720 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
Graduated, up to 13.30%
CA's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.
