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Economy, jobs and prices in San Rafael, California: official figures

The median household income in San Rafael was $119,435 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 111th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the California median $99,122.

Median household income
$119,435
2020-2024
Unemployment rate (ACS)
5.4%
2020-2024
Mean travel time to work
25.3 min
2020-2024
Median gross rent (monthly)
$2,377
2020-2024
Median home value (owner-occupied)
$1,355,600
2020-2024
Homes occupied by their owners
53.0%
2020-2024
Households with a broadband subscription
94.6%
2020-2024

What is the per capita income in San Rafael?

Income per resident (per capita income) in San Rafael averaged $70,031 a year in 2020-2024, 53rd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; California: $49,513).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How unequal are incomes in San Rafael?

San Rafael's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.511 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 71st most unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in San Rafael, California?

5.4% of the civilian labor force in San Rafael was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (1,757 people), 376th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and California's 6.6%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in San Rafael are working?

64.3% of San Rafael's 50,124 residents aged 16 and over were in the labor force (working or looking for work) in 2020-2024, 323rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 63.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in San Rafael have jobs?

30,497 residents of San Rafael held civilian jobs, 60.8% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%); the survey counted no residents in the armed forces.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What are the main industries in San Rafael?

The largest industry group for working residents of San Rafael was education, health care and social assistance (20.1% of employed residents), followed by professional, scientific, management and administrative services (18.8%) and retail trade (11.1%), 2020-2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in San Rafael work in manufacturing?

Manufacturing employed 4.8% of working residents of San Rafael, 72nd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 18.8% (US: 12.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How long is the commute in San Rafael, California?

Commuters in San Rafael took 25.3 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 370th longest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 9.2% travelled an hour or more and 28.6% less than 15 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How do people in San Rafael get to work?

26.3% of workers living in San Rafael worked from home in 2020-2024, 89th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 48.3% drove to work alone, 12.8% carpooled, 5.6% used public transport and 4.5% walked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the average rent in San Rafael, California?

The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in San Rafael was $2,377 a month in 2020-2024, 67th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; California: $2,036).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does a house cost in San Rafael?

Owner-occupied homes in San Rafael had a median value of $1,355,600 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 20th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; California: $734,700).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How affordable are homes in San Rafael?

The median home value in San Rafael was 11.4 times the median household income, 11th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in San Rafael, California own their home?

53.0% of the 22,910 occupied homes in San Rafael were lived in by their owners in 2020-2024 and 10,770 were rented, 271st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more for home ownership (US: 65.2%; California: 55.9%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of homes in San Rafael have broadband?

94.6% of households in San Rafael had a broadband internet subscription of some type in 2020-2024, 226th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 91.0%; California: 93.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many households in San Rafael have no internet?

3.6% of households in San Rafael (815) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 262nd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 9.5% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How San Rafael compares with other cities in the United States

Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

San Rafael ranks 111 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian household income (2024 dollars)
108Franklin$119,528
109Wylie$119,522
110Minnetonka$119,517
111San Rafael$119,435
112Roseville$119,288
113Little Elm$119,219
114Lakewood$119,177
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

San Rafael ranks 53 of 823, highest first.

RankCityPer capita income (2024 dollars)
50Eden Prairie$71,657
51Oak Park$71,362
52Jupiter$71,255
53San Rafael$70,031
54Yorba Linda$69,536
55Berkeley$69,534
56Milpitas$69,335
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)

San Rafael ranks 71 of 823, highest first.

RankCityGini index of household income inequality
68Wilmington0.512
69Lafayette0.512
70Gary0.511
71San Rafael0.511
72Oakland0.511
73Valdosta0.511
74Waco0.511
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)

San Rafael ranks 376 of 823, highest first.

RankCityUnemployment rate (share of civilian labor force)
373Louisville/Jefferson County metro government5.5%
374Joliet5.5%
375Bayonne5.4%
376San Rafael5.4%
377Chattanooga5.4%
378Concord5.4%
379Sunrise5.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)

San Rafael ranks 501 of 823, highest first.

RankCityLabor force participation rate (16 and over)
498West Palm Beach64.4%
499Pittsburgh64.4%
500Petaluma64.4%
501San Rafael64.3%
502North Miami64.3%
503Visalia64.3%
504Bryan64.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)

San Rafael ranks 370 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMean travel time to work (minutes)
367Kenner25.3
368Passaic25.3
369Oxnard25.3
370San Rafael25.3
371Sacramento25.3
372Apex25.2
373Fort Myers25.2
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)

San Rafael ranks 89 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers who worked from home
86Allen26.7%
87Oakland26.5%
88Tigard26.4%
89San Rafael26.3%
90Minneapolis26.2%
91Parker26.2%
92Gilbert26.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)

San Rafael ranks 81 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers commuting by public transportation
78Shoreline5.7%
79St. Louis5.7%
80Rochester5.6%
81San Rafael5.6%
82Burien5.6%
83South San Francisco5.5%
84Ames5.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)

San Rafael ranks 752 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents working in manufacturing
749Cathedral City4.9%
750Citrus Heights4.8%
751South Fulton4.8%
752San Rafael4.8%
753Glendale4.8%
754Grand Junction4.7%
755Concord4.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)

San Rafael ranks 658 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents in education, health care and social assistance
655Ogden20.1%
656West Palm Beach20.1%
657Kent20.1%
658San Rafael20.1%
659Salinas20.0%
660Compton20.0%
661Arvada20.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)

San Rafael ranks 67 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian gross rent per month
64Placentia$2,388
65Jupiter$2,381
66Celina$2,379
67San Rafael$2,377
68Newton$2,370
69Rancho Cucamonga$2,357
70Folsom$2,352
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)

San Rafael ranks 20 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian value of owner-occupied homes
17Fremont$1,403,800
18San Clemente$1,398,400
19San Francisco$1,394,500
20San Rafael$1,355,600
21Bellevue$1,340,300
22Dublin$1,317,100
23Redondo Beach$1,279,200
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)

San Rafael ranks 10 of 820, highest first.

RankCityMedian home value as a multiple of median household income
7Boulder11.9x
8Redwood City11.4x
9Hawthorne11.4x
10San Rafael11.4x
11Los Angeles11.2x
12Burbank11.2x
13Inglewood10.9x
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)

San Rafael ranks 553 of 823, highest first.

RankCityOccupied homes lived in by their owners
550Lafayette53.1%
551Garden Grove53.1%
552Auburn53.1%
553San Rafael53.0%
554St. Paul52.9%
555Colton52.8%
556Grapevine52.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)

San Rafael ranks 226 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with a broadband subscription
223Raleigh94.7%
224Marysville94.6%
225Rio Rancho94.6%
226San Rafael94.6%
227Fountain Valley94.6%
228Moreno Valley94.6%
229Davie94.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with no internet access (2020-2024)

San Rafael ranks 562 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with no internet access
559Rio Rancho3.6%
560Edina3.6%
561Renton3.6%
562San Rafael3.6%
563Columbus3.5%
564Rochester3.5%
565Vista3.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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