1st Advantage MortgageMarin County households have a median income of $149,091 and median rent of $2,668 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in California before sharing details.
On this page
- Marin County by the numbers
- What Marin County households earn
- The Marin County job picture
- What it costs to live in Marin County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Marin County
- Marin County next to its neighbors
- Debt-to-income at Marin County's medians
- People and households in Marin County
- Local borrowing considerations for Marin County
- Steps before you apply in Marin County
- California rules that apply in Marin County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Marin County by the numbers
Roughly 257,969 residents live in Marin County, California, 26th by population among the state's 58 counties and county equivalents. It covers 520 square miles of land, or about 496 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metropolitan area. San Rafael is the biggest of its 31 Census places, at roughly 60,433 people (23% of the county total).
What Marin County households earn
Marin County households have a median income of $149,091 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 3rd of 58 in California.
| Income band | Share in Marin County | Difference from California |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 12.2% | -5.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 24.2% | -8.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.7% | -4.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 38.9% | +18.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 64% of Marin County households make $100,000 or more, and 12% make less than $35,000. 8.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.0%). A household earning below the $149,091 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
The Marin County job picture
Professional and administrative services employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 21%. Compared with California, the county leans toward professional and administrative services (22% against 15%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.1% in Marin County. Long commutes are common here: 21% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 4.9% of the total (7.1% statewide).
| Where residents work | Marin County | Difference from California |
|---|---|---|
| Professional and administrative services | 22.2% | +7.7 pts |
| Education and health care | 21.2% | -0.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.4% | -0.7 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 9.0% | +3.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.9% | -1.6 pts |
| Construction | 6.4% | -0.3 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What it costs to live in Marin County
Renters in Marin County pay a median of $2,668 a month, 31% above the California figure of $2,036. By the Census definition, 56% of Marin County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $1,507,300, or 10.1 years of median income. The ownership rate is 65%.
| Housing | Marin County | California statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $2,668/mo | $2,036/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $1,507,300 | $734,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 65% | 56% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 56% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 38% | 38% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.3% | 3.5% | n/a |
High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Marin County
The table lists the 14 largest of 31 Census places in Marin County, by population. Together all 31 hold about 243,322 people, so roughly 6% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $68,846 in Marin City to $250,001 in Sleepy Hollow. Median rent ranges from $1,335 in Marin City to $3,501 in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley. City guides exist for the linked Marin County places; everyone else in the county can use this page.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Rafael | city | 60,433 | $119,435 | $2,377 | 14 mi |
| Novato | city | 52,546 | $115,736 | $2,506 | 11 mi |
| Mill Valley | city | 14,012 | $206,212 | $3,278 | 15 mi |
| Larkspur | city | 12,854 | $140,417 | $3,001 | 14 mi |
| San Anselmo | town | 12,679 | $173,641 | $2,797 | 11 mi |
| Tamalpais-Homestead Valley | CDP | 12,085 | $243,227 | $3,501 | 16 mi |
| Corte Madera | town | 10,077 | $232,763 | $3,501 | 15 mi |
| Tiburon | town | 9,012 | $232,969 | $3,501 | 19 mi |
| Fairfax | town | 7,516 | $141,653 | $2,367 | 9 mi |
| Sausalito | city | 7,141 | $182,357 | $3,501 | 19 mi |
| Kentfield | CDP | 6,900 | $249,896 | $2,741 | 13 mi |
| Lucas Valley-Marinwood | CDP | 6,473 | $200,761 | $3,501 | 9 mi |
| Strawberry | CDP | 5,830 | $157,661 | $2,958 | 17 mi |
| Santa Venetia | CDP | 3,725 | $126,833 | n/a | 14 mi |
Marin County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from San Francisco County at 27 miles out to San Mateo County at 49. San Mateo County leads the group on income ($158,855), Solano County trails ($100,401), and Marin County out-earns 5 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marin County | - | $149,091 | $2,668/mo | 65% |
| San Francisco County, CA | 27 mi | $140,970 | $2,476/mo | 38% |
| Sonoma County, CA | 34 mi | $104,674 | $2,158/mo | 63% |
| Napa County, CA | 39 mi | $111,471 | $2,237/mo | 63% |
| Contra Costa County, CA | 44 mi | $127,229 | $2,375/mo | 68% |
| Solano County, CA | 46 mi | $100,401 | $2,163/mo | 63% |
| San Mateo County, CA | 49 mi | $158,855 | $2,922/mo | 58% |
Debt-to-income at Marin County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Marin County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $12,424 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $2,668 uses 21%
- $1,805: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $2,668, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
People and households in Marin County
61% of Marin County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 3.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Marin County | California statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.4 | 37.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 61.1% | 37.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.2% | 15.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.8% | 6.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.9% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 31.5% | 17.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.3% | 12.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.1% | 6.6% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Marin County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 27.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.7% |
| 60+ min | 10.8% |
Local borrowing considerations for Marin County
Based on the Marin County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Vehicle repairs. 21% of Marin County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 47, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 64% of Marin County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Tight rental budgets. With 56% of Marin County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Steps before you apply in Marin County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Marin County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the California license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
California rules that apply in Marin County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Marin County resident can confirm its license with the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The California guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
Guides that cover parts of Marin County:
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Marin County?
$149,091 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $99,122 for California. It ranks 3rd of 58 in the state.
How does Marin County rent compare with California?
$2,668 locally versus $2,036 for the state, 31% above.
Which towns does the Marin County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 31 Census places: San Rafael, Novato, Mill Valley, Larkspur, San Anselmo.
Is the fit check different in Marin County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Marin County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In California it is the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.