San Rafael

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San Rafael, CA

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The North Bay’s prime artistic community.

Commuter Arts Schools Outdoors Family-Friendly

Just 30 minutes from San Francisco and boasting great schools, over a dozen city parks, and a thriving cultural scene, San Rafael apartments are a great choice for folks who work in the city. As a community, San Rafael is very much in touch with the arts. Several art and history museums dot the map, and the monthly 2nd Friday Art Walk is very popular among locals.

Ever since Bay Area native George Lucas chose San Rafael as the home for his special effects company Industrial Light and Magic, the city has seen a significant amount of filmmaking activity. Movie buffs will also love taking advantage of the Smith Rafael Film Center, which screens an eclectic mix of classic and contemporary films in a gorgeous downtown art deco theater. Outdoorsy types will appreciate the nearby coastal nature preserves and the relatively close proximity of the massive National Forests to the north.

Rent Trends

As of March 2025, the average apartment rent in San Rafael, CA is $1,804 for a studio, $2,164 for one bedroom, $2,705 for two bedrooms, and $3,310 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in San Rafael has increased by 0.3% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$2,164/month
636 Sq Ft
House
$6,571/month
1,974 Sq Ft
Condo
$3,669/month
1,018 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in San Rafael, CA

Transportation

76

Very Walkable

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

If you enjoy walking, you’ll enjoy renting in this area! It’s a very walkable neighborhood.

45

Some Transit

out of 100 TransitScore® Rating

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

60

Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.

Schools

Lucas Valley Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

354 Students

8
out of 10

Sun Valley Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

473 Students

7
out of 10

Vallecito Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

420 Students

6
out of 10

Coleman Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

367 Students

6
out of 10

Glenwood Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

307 Students

6
out of 10

James B. Davidson Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

1,063 Students

6
out of 10

Miller Creek Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

608 Students

6
out of 10

Venetia Valley Elementary School

Public

Grades K-8

728 Students

4
out of 10

Marin County Special Education School

Public

Grades K-12

201 Students

Rating Unavailable

Terra Linda High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,189 Students

7
out of 10

San Rafael High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,265 Students

6
out of 10

Marin County Special Education School

Public

Grades K-12

201 Students

Rating Unavailable

Marin School of Environmental Leadership

Public

Grades 9-12

90 Students

Rating Unavailable

Marin County ROP

Public

Grades 9-12

Rating Unavailable

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • WildCare
  • China Camp State Park
  • Hal Brown Park at Creekside
  • John F. McInnis County Park
  • McNear's Beach County Park

Airports

  • Metro Oakland International
  • San Francisco International

Top Apartments in San Rafael

Houses for Rent in San Rafael

Property Management Companies in San Rafael, CA

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2025.