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Data on this report is based on areas within the legal city boundary, outlined in black on the map. Any additional neighborhoods shown on the map are associated with the city by name and are included for reference only.



San Rafael, CA Real Estate Market

Source & Methodology

Analytics built by:   Location, Inc.

Raw data sources:   American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Date(s) & Update Frequency:
  • Home Values, Rents: Reflects Q4 2023. Updated quarterly.
  • Setting, Housing Stock, Homeownership: 2022 (latest available). Updated annually.

Methodology:   NeighborhoodScout uses over 600 characteristics to build a neighborhood profile… Read more about Scout's Real Estate Data

San Rafael, CA Housing Market Trends

With a population of 59,971, 23,370 total housing units (homes and apartments), and a median house value of $1,372,971, San Rafael house prices are not only among the most expensive in California, San Rafael real estate also is some of the most expensive in all of America.

Single-family detached homes are the single most common housing type in San Rafael, accounting for 48.39% of the city's housing units. Other types of housing that are prevalent in San Rafael include large apartment complexes or high rise apartments ( 30.83%), duplexes, homes converted to apartments or other small apartment buildings ( 11.19%), and a few row houses and other attached homes ( 8.21%).

People in San Rafael primarily live in small (one, two or no bedroom) single-family detached homes. San Rafael has a mixture of owner-occupied and renter-occupied housing.

At the end of World War II, American soldiers returned home triumphant and, with the help of the GI Bill, built homes by the millions on the edges of America's cities. These homes were predominantly capes and ranches, modest in size, but built to house a growing middle-class as the 20th century became the American century. San Rafael's housing was primarily built during this period, from the '40s through the '60s. A full 46.36% of the city's housing hails from this era. Other housing ages represented in San Rafael include homes built between 1970-1999 ( 37.54%) and housing constructed before 1939 ( 9.58%). There's also some housing in San Rafael built between 2000 and later ( 6.52%).

San Rafael Home Appreciation Rates

San Rafael's appreciation rate notably has been below the national average for the last ten years. The average annual home appreciation rate in San Rafael during the period has been just 4.70%, which is lower than 80% of US communities.

Over the last year, San Rafael appreciation rates have trailed the rest of the nation. In the last twelve months, San Rafael's appreciation rate has been 0.57%, which is lower than appreciation rates in most communities in America. In the latest quarter, NeighborhoodScout's data show that house appreciation rates in San Rafael were at -0.62%, which equates to an annual appreciation rate of -2.46%.

Relative to California, our data show that San Rafael's latest annual appreciation rate is lower than 60% of the other cities and towns in California.

One very important thing to keep in mind is that these are average appreciation rates for the city. Individual neighborhoods within San Rafael differ in their investment potential, sometimes by a great deal. Fortunately, you can use NeighborhoodScout to pinpoint the exact neighborhoods in San Rafael - or in any city or town - that have the best track record of real estate appreciation, by the latest quarter, the last year, 2 years, 5 years, 10 years, or even since 2000, to assist you in making the best San Rafael real estate investment or home purchase decisions.

Average Home Values

Median Home Value

$1,372,971

San Rafael, CA Home Prices
> $1,153,000
$865,001 - $1,153,000
$576,001 - $865,000
$461,001 - $576,000
$346,001 - $461,000
$230,001 - $346,000
$115,001 - $230,000
$58,001 - $115,000
$0 - $58,000
61.1%
61.1%
17.7%
17.7%
10.1%
10.1%
5.7%
5.7%
2.0%
2.0%
1.5%
1.5%
0.7%
0.7%
0.3%
0.3%
0.9%
0.9%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes
Very High

for California

Very High

for nation

Number of Homes And Apartments:

23,370

San Rafael Appreciation Rates

Rent & Ownership

Average Market Rent:

$3,406 / per month

Homeownership Rate

Owners
Renters
49.9%
49.9%
50.1%
50.1%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Vacancy Rate

Vacant
Occupied
4.2%
4.2%
95.8%
95.8%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Housing Market Details

Age of Homes

2000 or Newer
1970 - 1999
1940 - 1969
1939 or Older
6.5%
6.5%
37.5%
37.5%
46.4%
46.4%
9.6%
9.6%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Types of Homes

Single-Family
Townhomes
Small Apt. Buildings
Apt. Complexes
Mobile Homes
Other
48.4%
48.4%
8.2%
8.2%
11.2%
11.2%
30.8%
30.8%
1.0%
1.0%
0.4%
0.4%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Home Size

No Bedroom
1 Bedroom
2 Bedrooms
3 Bedrooms
4 Bedrooms
5 or more bedrooms
6.9%
6.9%
19.9%
19.9%
24.4%
24.4%
27.1%
27.1%
18.4%
18.4%
3.3%
3.3%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes