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San Francisco

San Rafael

#5,261 in Best Places to Live in America
  • A-
    Overall Grade
  • Town in California
  • 39 reviews
    A-
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Public Schools
      B+
    2. Crime & Safety
      B-
    3. Housing
      C-
    4. Nightlife
      A-
    5. Good for Families
      B+
    6. Diversity
      A
    7. Jobs
      B-
    8. Weather
      A+
    9. Cost of Living
      D
    10. Health & Fitness
      A+
    11. Outdoor Activities
      A
    12. Commute
      A-
    View Full Report Card
    San Rafael is a town in California with a population of 59,180. San Rafael is in Marin County and is one of the best places to live in California. Living in San Rafael offers residents an urban suburban mix feel and most residents own their homes. In San Rafael there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many families and young professionals live in San Rafael and residents tend to be liberal. The public schools in San Rafael are above average.
    About San Rafael...
    Population
    59,180

    Real Estate

    Median Home Value
    $816,700
    National
    $184,700
    Median Rent
    $1,718
    National
    $949
    Area Feel
    Urban Suburban Mix
    Rent vs. Own
    • Rent
      48%
    • Own
      52%
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    San Rafael Rankings

    Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.

    Crime & Safety

    Crime & Safety
    B-
    Based on violent and property crime rates.
    Violent Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Assault
      142
      282.7
    • Murder
      0
      6.1
    • Rape
      35.5
      40.7
    • Robbery
      150.5
      135.5
    Property Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Burglary
      458.2
      500.1
    • Theft
      1,844.7
      2,042.8
    • Motor Vehicle Theft
      448.1
      284

    Residents

    Diversity
    A
    Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
    Age
    • <10 years
      12%
    • 10-17 years
      9%
    • 18-24 years
      8%
    • 25-34 years
      12%
    • 35-44 years
      14%
    • 45-54 years
      15%
    • 55-64 years
      11%
    • 65+ years
      18%
    Education Levels
    National
    • Master's degree or higher
      21%
      12%
    • Bachelor's degree
      29%
      19%
    • Some college or associate's degree
      23%
      29%
    • High school diploma or equivalent
      13%
      28%
    • Less than high school diploma
      14%
      13%

    Working in San Rafael

    Jobs
    B-
    Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
    Median Household Income
    $85,931
    National
    $55,322
    Search for Jobs in San Rafael
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    San Rafael Reviews

    39 reviews
    All Categories
    San Rafael is an amazing community of various diverse people of all ages. There are a large ammount of families here, as well as retirees. San Rafael is a quick drive from San Fransico, Novato, Petaluma, Sonoma, and more. Traffic in the downtown area can be bad at certain times during the day. There are 5 public elementary, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools in the San Rafael School District. It's a great safe area to live!
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    San Rafael is a beautiful and has excellent weather. Downtown there are many shops and local businesses as well. Although there are sometimes parking issues, usually someone is able to find parking. There excellent schools in the area, the only problem for most is housing. In this area, rent and buying houses is extremely expensive. Many people may rent or share apartment in order to actually pay the price of the home or apartment.
    The area has great schools and is very family friendly. People here also tend to be very environmentally conscious and health-oriented. As for things to do, there are many shops and restaurants in Downtown and China Camp is a great place to go for a hike. The city is also close to San Francisco, and there is always a lot to do there. However, the biggest issue with San Rafael is definitely housing. It is generally very expensive to buy or rent in this area.