Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

San Rafael, CA Population, Income & Demographics 2026

MyTownView

Showing latest census year. Full demographic history available with a paid plan. View plans →

Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

60,433

Median Agei

43.2

Race & Ethnicityi

White

51.2%30,956

Hispanic/Latino

35.5%21,453

Asian

4.9%2,980

Two or More

4.6%2,764

Black

2.2%1,313

Other

1.2%706

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.3%210

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%51

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

2%858

High School Diploma

11.7%5,045

Some College (<1 yr)

4.1%1,754

Some College (1+ yr)

11.5%4,974

Associate's Degree

5.8%2,512

Bachelor's Degree

27.9%12,031

Master's Degree

14.3%6,167

Professional Degree

5.2%2,224

Doctorate

2.3%994

HS or Higher

84.8%

BA or Higher

49.7%

Graduate+

21.8%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$1,355,600

Median Renti

$2,377

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

53%12,140

Renter-Occupied

47%10,770

Total Units

23,909

Homeownership

53%

Vacancy Rate

4.2%

Home Values

Under $50K

0.6%76

$50K–$100K

0.8%96

$100K–$150K

0.6%72

$150K–$200K

0.5%63

$200K–$300K

1.4%173

$300K–$500K

4%482

$500K–$1M

20.1%2,442

$1M+

72%8,736

Rent Distribution

Under $500

714

$500–$750

189

$750–$1,000

172

$1,000–$1,250

380

$1,250–$1,500

247

$1,500–$2,000

1,503

$2,000+

7,424

Year Built

2020 or later

0.3%60

2010–2019

2%481

2000–2009

5.7%1,364

1990–1999

9.7%2,321

1980–1989

11.2%2,671

1970–1979

17%4,073

1960–1969

22.1%5,294

1950–1959

16.6%3,965

1940–1949

5.6%1,335

1939 or earlier

9.8%2,345

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

61.2%14,023

Electricity

33.8%7,745

Bottled/LP Gas

2.4%553

No Fuel

1.5%336

Solar

0.7%161

Wood

0.2%50

Other

0.2%42

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$119,435

Mean Household Incomei

$183,386

Per Capita Incomei

$70,031

Poverty Ratei

11.4%

Unemploymenti

5.4%

Labor Forcei

32,254

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

3.2%733

$10K–$15K

2.6%592

$15K–$20K

1.8%406

$20K–$25K

1.9%437

$25K–$30K

1.7%384

$30K–$35K

3.1%714

$35K–$40K

2.4%540

$40K–$45K

1.7%385

$45K–$50K

1.9%444

$50K–$60K

7.3%1,671

$60K–$75K

5.7%1,304

$75K–$100K

10.3%2,356

$100K–$125K

8.9%2,030

$125K–$150K

6.5%1,487

$150K–$200K

12.3%2,828

$200K+

28.8%6,599

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

1,101

Residentsi

1,549

Avg. Tenant Renti

$480/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

20 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing39 homes98% occupied$441/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers59 homes91% occupied$471/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 8156 homes88% occupied$535/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC61 homes98% occupied$436/mo rent

811/PRAC28 homes95% occupied$345/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $119,435/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $36K/yr

94.4%

Very low income$36K–$60K/yr

5.1%

Low income$60K–$96K/yr

0.5%

Who Receives This Housing

61.1% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

35.4% of subsidized households are minority

37.6% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

83.4% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

17,10328.3%

By Region

Top Countries

Guatemala

5,505

Mexico

3,387

United Kingdom

647

Philippines

617

Germany

365

China

327

Canada

326

Korea

278

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

29,866

Avg. Commutei

25.3 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

30,497

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

1,481(3.1% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

93.3%Insured

6.7%Uninsured

San Rafael, CA Population, Income & Demographics 2026