Santa Venetia, California, 2006
Santa Venetia’s story
112 years in pictures
Census counts: 3,362 in 1990, 4,289 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2006 and 3 maps from 1954 on.
- 1914Santa Venetia is founded
Santa VenetiaCA
TownGrade
C+
#263 of 841 in CA
The town was founded in 1914 and has 3,725 residents today. More miles of trail than almost any town in California.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: Kpapai at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
3,725
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$1.01M
Census ACS
Household income
$127K
median
Median age
56.2
years
Jobs based here
939
A commuter town
Founded
1914
112 years ago
What should you know before moving to Santa Venetia?
The picture is mixed. Its lowest grade is for hazard risk (D−): FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 99% of U.S. communities, with coastal flooding at the top. Santa Venetia grades C+ overall, better than 43% of U.S. towns. That places it 263rd of 841 in California. It lags on cost of living as well — the typical home is worth about $1.0 million, 7.4 years of the San Francisco metro’s $136K median household income. Where it does best is walkability (A+) — it is more walkable than 96% of U.S. towns. China Camp State Park, at 1,016 acres with 18.4 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve. A third of residents are 65 or older here, above both California’s towns (16%) and U.S. towns (18%).
Figures: FEMA National Risk Index · home values, Zillow · incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · OpenStreetMap.
How Santa Venetia grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Santa Venetia is from typical.
Hazard riskCoastal flooding tops the listD−Open →Cost of livingAmong the weakest of the towns comparedD−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 12 of 20; 5.3% of households have no carA+Open →HealthKaiser Foundation Hospital 2.8 miles awayAOpen →Jobs & income939 jobs based hereB+Open →SchoolsGraded on exam and test resultsB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsAmong the best for parks and open landA+Open →HistoryBased on listed places, the town’s age and notable peopleDOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 73° summer afternoons–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 56.2; 55% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
What makes Santa Venetia stand out
Where Santa Venetia beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
OutdoorsA+
#2 most trails in CA
61.1% of the town is conserved land.
WalkabilityA+
More walkable than 96% of U.S. towns
7.5% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
Worth knowing · Natural hazardsD−
Coastal flooding and inland flooding at the top
FEMA National Risk Index.
By the sea
Santa Venetia lives by the ocean
Coastal flooding makes up 42% of the storm damage FEMA expects here.
42%of expected storm damage is coastal flooding
100thpercentile for coastal flood risk nationally
187paid flood-insurance claims since 1978
0thpercentile for hurricane risk
On the water
- China Camp State Park Directions ↗
- San Venetia Marsh Open Space Preserve Directions ↗
- Santa Margarita Island Open Space Preserve
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA · OpenStreetMap
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Santa Venetia.
Santa Venetia has more trail for its size than nearly any town in California, has milder winter nights than nearly all U.S. towns and owes part of its health edge to its incomes.
OutdoorsA+
Trail density in Santa Venetia is higher than in the typical California or U.S. town
#2for trails in CA
At 7.4 miles of trail per square mile, it ranks #2 of 678 California towns. Its 1,436 conserved acres are a larger share of the town than in 99% of California towns.
27 miles of trail wind through 7 parks and preserves. Parks and preserves in Santa Venetia: 7, covering 1,437 acres.
61.1%
conserved · 1,436 of 2,352 acres
27 mi
of trails · 7.4 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. China Camp State Park | 18.4 mi | 1,016 |
| 2. San Pedro Mountain Open Space Preserve | 1.8 mi | 350 |
| 3. Harry A Barbier Memorial Park | 1.2 mi | 14 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsB−
Public schools in Santa Venetia fall behind 52% of California districts
48%of CA districts it outscoresB−School Grade
One of its 2 schools is below, with the reason it’s listed. Public schools: the San Rafael City Elementary school district. Enrollment at Santa Venetia’s public school: 748 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venetia Valley K-8Largest public elementary schoolGrades K–8 | Grades K–8 | 748 | C+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D−
Natural hazards: very high risk in Santa Venetia, mostly coastal flooding
99risk score of 100
Since 1978, Santa Venetia has seen 187 flood insurance claims paid out. Just over two fifths of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from coastal flooding, followed by inland flooding at 40%.
FEMA risk score
Coastal floodingInland floodingEarthquakes
187
paid flood claims since 1978
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthA
Santa Venetia ranks healthier than 86% of the country’s towns
86%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
Against the 4,870 U.S. towns with household incomes like Santa Venetia’s, it is healthier than 62%, a smaller edge than it has nationally: part of it comes with its incomes.
Among adults in Santa Venetia, 21% have been diagnosed with depression. Against the California average, Santa Venetia comes out ahead on 16 CDC measures out of 32, and behind on 3. Two figures for adults in the town: 30% feel lonely, 14% report frequent mental distress.
| Santa Venetia | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 29% | 35% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 36% | 33% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 17% | 17% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 35% | 36% |
32 measures vs. California
16 better13 too close to call3 worse
| What stands out | Santa Venetia | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 9.5% | 17.9% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 8.6% | 14.9% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.7% | 6.4% |
Kaiser Foundation Hospital
2.8 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
78th
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
Santa Venetia has 0.5 jobs per working resident, so most workers leave town for work
3%work in town
3.2% of Santa Venetia working residents work locally. The top destinations are San Francisco (21%), San Rafael (17%) and Novato (5%). The typical household income in the town is $127,000. Half the trips to work are shorter than 16 miles.
| Santa Venetia | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $127,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 3.2% | 6.6% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.8% | 10% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 26 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Santa Venetia3%
San Francisco21%
San Rafael17%
Novato5%
Oakland3%
16 mi
median commute distance
939
jobs based in Santa Venetia
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 96% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Santa Venetia has mild winters and pleasant summers
73°summer high
January nights average 43.5°, milder than in 96% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 71.7°.
In Santa Venetia, the typical July afternoon high is 72°F. It almost never snows.
| Santa Venetia | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 72°F | 89°F | 85°F |
| January low | 44°F | 40°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter44–57°
Spring48–64°
Summer54–72°
Fall51–69°
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
73°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade D−
Homes in Santa Venetia sell for about $1.25M
$1.25Mmedian sale price
The median property tax bill is $8,456, against $5,124 across California, another input to its cost-of-living grade.
The share of households in Santa Venetia who are owner-occupiers: 70%.
3
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Santa Venetia
17pages on Santa Venetia
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
Nearby attractions
All 249 attractions →Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary and 187 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Santa Venetia. Close and well known come first.
Big draw13 mi MuseumAlcatraz Federal Penitentiary
Big draw18 mi Stadium & arenaChase Center
Big draw14 mi GardenPresidio of San Francisco
Big draw15 mi LandmarkLombard Street
Big draw19 mi MuseumUSS Hornet
Big draw17 mi Stadium & arenaOracle ParkSources: 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 · Chase Center: Gregory Varnum, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Presidio of San Francisco: Robert Campbell, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Lombard Street: The original uploader was Y6y6y6 at English Wikipedia., Public domain · USS Hornet: kitmasterbloke, CC BY 2.0 · Oracle Park: User Coasttocoast on en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Getting set up
Moving to Santa Venetia: who provides what
Santa Venetia is unincorporated, so Marin County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerPG&E37.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterMarin Municipal Water DistrictNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesMarin CountyMarin County provides services here
SchoolsSan Rafael City Elementary School DistrictSan Rafael City High School District2 districts serve Santa Venetia; 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.govWho runs elections hereMarin County Registrar of VotersMarin County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2025
ZIP code9490394903 99%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Get outside
27 miles of trails in Santa Venetia
61.1% of the town is conserved land, across 7 parks and preserves.
3
Harry A Barbier Memorial Park1.2 mi of trails · 14 acres
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
After high school
Colleges nearby
5 within 15 miles of the center of Santa Venetia
Dominican University of CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · San Rafael1.8 mi$52,161 tuitionPresidio Graduate SchoolUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · San Anselmo4.2 miCollege of MarinCommunity college · Public · Kentfield4.5 mi$1,558 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Santa Venetia residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.
About Santa Venetia
Census-designated place in California, United States
Santa Venetia is a census-designated place (CDP) in Marin County, California, United States. It is located 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of downtown San Rafael, at an elevation of 56 feet (17 m). The population was 4,289 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 3.7 sq mi
- Elevation
- 56 ft
- Area code
- 415
Santa Venetia’s neighbors
One town shares a border with Santa Venetia.
San RafaelSanta Venetia
How the neighbors grade
| Town | CA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Venetia | #263 | C+ | D− | — | B− | A |
| San Rafael | #380 | C | D− | D | B+ | A− |
Santa Venetia reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Santa Venetia with a neighbor →
Questions about Santa Venetia
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Santa Venetia, CA a good place to live?
Santa Venetia grades C+ overall, better than 43% of U.S. towns and #263 of 841 in California. It grades A for health and B− for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Santa Venetia, CA expensive?
Yes. The typical home is worth about $1,006,000, 32% above the California typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D−.
Santa Venetia is in here
Say something about Santa Venetia.
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