San Rafael's standout: it has 62 miles of trail and 26% conserved land. Overall it grades C, 380th among California's 841 graded towns. Residents are healthier than 76% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates and it is more walkable than 97% of U.S. towns. Its weakest subject is cost of living: homes are expensive, about $1.3 million for a typical one and 9.7 times the San Francisco metro’s $136K median household income. San Rafael’s typical home value is $1,314,000, against $709,000 in California’s towns and $332,000 across U.S. towns. Only 36 of California’s 1,063 towns score higher on history. San Rafael is home to Dominican University of California.

StrongestA⁺Outdoors A⁺Walkability A⁻HistoryWeakestD⁻Cost of living D⁻Hazard risk DSafety

What makes San Rafael stand out

Where San Rafael beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.

WalkabilityA⁺

More walkable than 97% of U.S. towns

10.9% of workers walk, bike or ride transit

EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.

Worth knowing · Natural hazardsD⁻

Earthquakes and inland flooding at the top

FEMA National Risk Index.

Marin County Civic Center · National Register of Historic Places

San Rafael’s story

209 years in pictures

Marin County Civic Center is a National Historic Landmark, the National Register’s top tier. Its founding year, 1817, comes before those of 98% of the California towns we grade with a known year.

Census counts: 841 in 1870, 61,271 in 2020. The archive holds 15 old photos and papers going back to 1850 and 6 maps from 1897 on.

8 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

1817San Rafael is founded

Explore the history →

How San Rafael grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far San Rafael is from typical.

How grading works

WalkabilityEPA walkability 12.5 of 20; 8.7% of households have no carA⁺Open →Cost of livingD⁻Open →Hazard riskearthquakes tops the listD⁻Open →SafetyDOpen →HealthMarinhealth Medical Center 2.8 miles awayA⁻Open →SchoolsB⁺Open →Jobs & income$119K median household income; 32,648 jobs based hereB⁺Open →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

OutdoorsA⁺Open →History8 places on the National Register; 46 notable people born hereA⁻Open →Civic life3.1 library visits per resident; 7.7 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsBOpen →

Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.

ClimateMild winters, 73° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market22 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 43.2; 50% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Nearby attractions

Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary and 188 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around San Rafael. Close and well known come first.

All 252 attractions →

Big draw12 mi MuseumAlcatraz Federal Penitentiary

Big draw13 mi GardenPresidio of San Francisco

Big draw13 mi LandmarkLombard Street

Big draw16 mi Stadium & arenaChase Center

7 mi National MonumentMuir Woods National Monument757K visitors a year

Big draw15 mi Stadium & arenaOracle Park

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons

Photo credits

Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary: druchoy, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Presidio of San Francisco: Robert Campbell, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Lombard Street: The original uploader was Y6y6y6 at English Wikipedia., Public domain · Chase Center: Gregory Varnum, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Muir Woods National Monument: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Oracle Park: User Coasttocoast on en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

Getting set up

Moving to San Rafael: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in San Rafael, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerPG&E37.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterMarin Municipal Water DistrictNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpMarin Resource Recovery CenterCAOpenStreetMap

SchoolsSan Rafael City High School District San Rafael City Elementary School District Dixie Elementary School District3 districts serve San Rafael; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES

Register to voteOnlineIn California you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereMarin County Registrar of VotersMarin County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2025

ZIP codes94901, 9490394901 68% · 94903 32%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in San Rafael.

San Rafael has milder winter nights than nearly all U.S. towns, but it has homes that cost more against local pay than most of California and has a long record of flood insurance claims.

HousingCost of living grade D⁻

San Rafael earns a D− for cost of living

At 9.7 years of the San Francisco metro’s $136K median household income, the typical home (about $1.31M) costs more against local pay than in 76% of California towns; that ratio is one input to its D− for cost of living.

The median rent in San Rafael is $2,377 a month. The typical San Rafael home is worth about $1,314,000, up 3% in a year, 73% above the California typical home. 53% of San Rafael households own their home.

$1.31MZillow home value

	San Rafael	California towns	U.S. towns
Median rent	$2,377 a month	$1,895 a month	$1,185 a month
Households that own their home	53%	64%	73%
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent	58%	55%	48%

Typical home value

San Rafael$1.31M

California$762K

Market temperature

days on market

102.4%

sale-to-list price

+3%

value change, 1 year

homes sold in May

Full pageSan Rafael’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsUp 3% in a year Years of income to buyA typical home costs 11.0 years of income Rents$2,377 a month · Median rent Vs. the neighborsAhead of 5 of its 8 graded neighbors

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

SchoolsB⁺

San Rafael’s public schools outperform 68% of California districts

Its public schools are run by the San Rafael City Elementary school district. Three of its 25 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

68%of CA districts it outscoresB⁺School Grade

School	Level	Students	Letter
James B. Davidson MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8	Grades 6–8	1,052	B⁻
San Rafael HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	1,332	B⁺
Sun Valley ElementaryTop results in townGrades K–5	Grades K–5	523	A

Full pageSan Rafael’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsSan Rafael City Elementary Vs. the neighborsAhead of 2 of its 8 graded neighbors Every school25 schools · Bahia Vista Elementary Questions“Are San Rafael’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation

OutdoorsA⁺

San Rafael has set aside nearly a quarter of its land for conservation

62 miles of trail in 28 parks and preserves. San Rafael’s trail density is 2.8 miles per square mile. Harry A Barbier Memorial Park, at 642 acres with 16.8 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.

#96for trails in CA

25.9%

conserved · 3,710 of 14,351 acres

62 mi

of trails · 2.8 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Harry A Barbier Memorial Park	16.8 mi	642
2. Terra Linda - Sleepy Hollow Open Space Preserve	12 mi	876
3. China Camp State Park	6.6 mi	429

Full pageSan Rafael’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map62 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk16.8 miles of trail · Harry A Barbier Memorial Park Conserved land25.9% conserved · 3,710 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in San Rafael?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D⁻

Earthquakes leads a very high hazard risk in San Rafael

454 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 46 properties have flooded more than once.

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 94% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 454 flood insurance claims have been paid out in San Rafael.

94risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

EarthquakesInland floodingCoastal flooding

454

paid flood claims since 1978

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageSan Rafael’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesVery high risk Flood claims454 paid flood claims · Since 1978 Past disasters6 federal disasters · Paid out in San Rafael Get readyReady for earthquakes

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

SafetyD

San Rafael reports more crime per resident than 86% of U.S. towns

Reported crimes fell from 1,956 to 1,406 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.

14%of U.S. towns report more crimeDSafety Grade

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

San Rafael3.6

California4.3

U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

San Rafael19.9

California18.2

U.S.15.5

14th

percentile among U.S. towns we grade

20th

percentile among CA towns

217

violent crimes reported in 2025

1,189

property crimes reported in 2025

Full pageSan Rafael’s safety reportOpen the page

Violent crime by type3.6 violent crimes per 1,000 Crime over the yearsDown since 2023 Vs. the neighborsAhead of 1 of its 2 graded neighbors Questions“Is San Rafael, CA safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

HealthA⁻

San Rafael earns an A− for health

Against the 5,814 U.S. towns with household incomes like San Rafael’s, it is less healthy than 53%: its national edge comes with its incomes.

23% of adults have obesity in San Rafael. San Rafael beats the California average on 6 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 71% of adults had a checkup this year in San Rafael.

76%healthier than U.S. townsA⁻Health Grade

	San Rafael	California towns	U.S. towns
Obesity (CDC PLACES)	23%	29%	35%
Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES)	71%	72%	79%
Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES)	31%	35%	36%
Feel lonely (CDC PLACES)	32%	36%	33%

32 measures vs. California

6 better25 too close to call1 worse

What stands out	San Rafael	CA
Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth	7.6%	10.6%
Fewer lonely adults	32.2%	37.3%
More adults who have had cancer	8.7%	6.4%

Marinhealth Medical Center

2.8 mi away · emergency room

None

primary care, dental or mental-health shortage

65th

percentile among CA towns

Full pageSan Rafael’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsFewer adults sleeping under 7 hours Hospitals & doctors nearby2.8 miles to an ER · Marinhealth Medical Center How adults are doingFewer lonely adults Every CDC estimateBetter than CA on 6 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Climate

Mild winters and pleasant summers in San Rafael

January nights average 43.4°, milder than in 96% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 71.6°.

San Rafael has warm winters and cool summers. Snow is almost unheard of.

73°summer high

	San Rafael	California towns	U.S. towns
July high	72°F	89°F	85°F
January low	43°F	40°F	22°F

Typical low → high °F

Winter44–57°

Spring48–64°

Summer54–72°

Fall51–68°

+1.4°

vs. the 20th-century average

73°

typical summer high

Full pageSan Rafael’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 72°, January lows 43°Rain & snow33″ of rain a year · Snow is almost unheard of Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+1.4° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Work & commuteJobs & income grade B⁺

San Rafael has 1.4 jobs for every working resident, and 28,333 people commute in

26.3% of workers work from home, against 17.2% across California.

Most working residents leave San Rafael for work: only 19% work in town. The top destinations are San Francisco (22%), Novato (5%) and Oakland (3%). Half commute less than 15 miles.

19%work in town

	San Rafael	California towns	U.S. towns
Working residents who work in town	19%	6.6%	8%
Median household income	$119,000	$95,000	$80,000
Below the poverty line	12%	10%	9.6%
Average trip to work	25 minutes	28 minutes	25 minutes

Where working residents work

In San Rafael19%

San Francisco22%

Novato5%

Oakland3%

Larkspur2%

15 mi

median commute distance

32,648

jobs based in San Rafael

Balanced

jobs vs. working residents

A+

Walkability grade: more walkable than 97% of U.S. towns

Full pageSan Rafael’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here32,648 jobs based here · Balanced Where people work19% work in San Rafael Commute times25 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 15 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Keep exploring

Everything we know about San Rafael

20pages on San Rafael

The big questions

SchoolsB⁺Beat 68% of CA districts · 25 schools SafetyD3.6 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA⁻Better than CA on 6 of 32 CDC measures Cost of livingD⁻$1.31M typical home · up 3% in a year Work & commuteB⁺$119K median household income · 32,648 jobs here Natural hazardsD⁻FEMA risk higher than 94% of U.S. communities · earthquakes

Out and about

OutdoorsA⁺62 mi of trails · 26% conserved land PlacesAttractions252 nearby · China Camp State Park 2 mi LibraryB3.1 library visits per resident CollegesDominican University of California, in town

The story

HistoryA⁻Founded 1817 · 8 on the National Register Famous people46 born in San Rafael Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 161 residents Climate73° summer highs

Day to day

News3 recent stories about San Rafael WeatherHandbookZIP code 94901, 94903, 94912 Town SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

14 within 15 miles of the center of San Rafael

Dominican University of CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · San RafaelIn town$52,161 tuition College of MarinCommunity college · Public · Kentfield3 mi$1,558 in-state tuition University of California College of the Law-San FranciscoUniversity or college · Public · San Francisco14.7 mi

About 7 of every 100 San Rafael residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

Get outside

62 miles of trails in San Rafael

25.9% of the town is conserved land, across 28 parks and preserves.

Map of trails and conserved land in San Rafael

ConservedTrails

Harry A Barbier Memorial Park16.8 mi of trails · 642 acres

Directions

Terra Linda - Sleepy Hollow Open Space Preserve12 mi of trails · 876 acres

Directions

China Camp State Park6.6 mi of trails · 429 acres

Directions

Landmarks

8 places in San Rafael on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →

Marin County Civic CenterBuilt 1960 · National Historic Landmark

Boyd House

China CampBuilt 1976

Bradford HouseBuilt 1883

Famous people from San Rafael

46 notable people were born in San Rafael.

See all 46 →

George DukeAmerican musician · 1946–2013

Louise BoydAmerican explorer, botanist and photographer · 1887–1972

Espen BaardsenNorwegian footballer · born 1977

Terry NotaryAmerican actor · born 1968

Marin SaisActress · 1890–1971

Christian MarclayAmerican Swiss artist · born 1955

About San Rafael

City in California, United States

Official town website ↗

San Rafael ( SAN rə-FEL; Spanish for "St. Raphael", Spanish pronunciation: [san rafaˈel]) is a city in and the county seat of Marin County, California, United States. The city is located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2020 census, San Rafael had a population of 61,271. San Rafael was founded by the Spanish in 1817, when Vicente Francisco de Sarría established Mission San Rafael Arcángel, initially as an asistencia (sub-mission). San Rafael Arcángel was upgraded to full mission status in 1822, a month before Alta California declared independence from Spain as part of Mexico. Following the American Conquest of California, the community of San Rafael incorpora…

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Area: 23 sq mi
Elevation: 43 ft
ZIP code: 94901, 94903, 94912
Area code: 415

San Rafael’s neighbors

8 towns share a border with San Rafael.

Explore the map →

All 6 graded towns on its borders grade higher than its C; Santa Venetia (C+) is closest.

How the neighbors grade

Town	CA rank	Overall	Cost	Safety	Schools	Health
San Rafael	#380	C	D⁻	D	B⁺	A⁻
Santa Venetia	#263	C⁺	D⁻	—	B⁻	A
Ross	—	—	D⁻	B⁻	A⁺	A⁺
Larkspur	#31	A⁻	D⁻	—	A⁺	A⁺
San Anselmo	#49	A⁻	D⁻	—	A⁺	A⁺
Kentfield	#14	A	D	—	A	A⁺
Lucas Valley-Marinwood	#27	A⁻	D⁻	—	A	A⁺
Sleepy Hollow	#59	A⁻	D⁻	—	A⁺	A⁺

Ross has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Santa Venetia, Larkspur, San Anselmo, Kentfield, Lucas Valley-Marinwood and Sleepy Hollow report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare San Rafael with a neighbor →

Questions about San Rafael

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is San Rafael, CA a good place to live?

San Rafael grades C overall, better than 30% of U.S. towns and #380 of 841 in California. It grades A− for health, D for safety and B+ for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D−.

Is San Rafael, CA expensive?

Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D−.

What is San Rafael, CA known for?

46 notable people were born here, including George Duke and Louise Boyd.

Post to San Rafael

Check your email

San RafaelCA

What should you know before moving to San Rafael?

What makes San Rafael stand out

209 years in pictures

How San Rafael grades

Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary and 188 more within 40 miles

Moving to San Rafael: who provides what

The data

San Rafael earns a D− for cost of living

Typical home value

San Rafael’s public schools outperform 68% of California districts

San Rafael has set aside nearly a quarter of its land for conservation

Earthquakes leads a very high hazard risk in San Rafael

San Rafael reports more crime per resident than 86% of U.S. towns

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Property crime per 1,000 residents

San Rafael earns an A− for health

Mild winters and pleasant summers in San Rafael

Typical low → high °F

San Rafael has 1.4 jobs for every working resident, and 28,333 people commute in

Where working residents work

Everything we know about San Rafael

Colleges nearby

62 miles of trails in San Rafael

Landmarks

Famous people from San Rafael

About San Rafael

San Rafael’s neighbors

Questions about San Rafael