San Rafael, California Income Statistics
San Rafael Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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A
San Rafael Above average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | San Rafael | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $114,763 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $81,812 | $67,742 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.0% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 24.4% | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 28.7% | 20.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in San Rafael is about 16% higher than in California. Income has been growing slower in San Rafael (4.0%/yr) than in California (5.6%/yr).
About 24% of adults in San Rafael earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the California average of 18%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in San Rafael, California grew by 50.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $114,763 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.0% per year.
San Rafael has been far above the U.S. median household income in every year from 2009 to 2024. Even at its closest, in 2011, its income was 32% higher. The gap has narrowed from 50% in 2009 to 43% in 2024.
Income Distribution in San Rafael
How incomes are spread across brackets, compared with the U.S. Pick a range to count who falls in it.
Households by income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 10,925 households (55.5% of all households) have an income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 40.2% of all households.
In 2024, 14.8% of households in San Rafael had an income under $35,000 and 40.1% had $150,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 21.6% and 22.8%.
Compared with the U.S., San Rafael has a larger share of households earning $200,000 or more (28.7% vs 13.2%) and a smaller share earning $35,000 to $49,999 (6.3% vs 10.1%).
| Household income | Households | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $10,000 | 703 | 3.6% | 5.1% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 493 | 2.5% | 3.5% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 746 | 3.8% | 6.4% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 978 | 5.0% | 6.7% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 1,234 | 6.3% | 10.1% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 2,441 | 12.4% | 15.5% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 2,178 | 11.1% | 12.6% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 3,030 | 15.4% | 17.4% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 2,234 | 11.3% | 9.5% |
| $200,000 or more | 5,661 | 28.7% | 13.2% |
Shares are of all 19,699 households, one per occupied home whatever its size. Households with zero or negative income are counted in the lowest bracket. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19001).
Residents 15+ by personal income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 10,617 residents (24.4% of residents aged 15 and over) have a personal income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 13.9% of residents aged 15 and over.
That is 28.1% of residents who have any income.
In 2024, 13.4% of San Rafael residents aged 15 and over reported no personal income, 22.8% had some income but less than $25,000, and 32.6% had $75,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 12.8%, 28.7% and 22.0%.
Compared with the U.S., San Rafael has a larger share of residents earning $100,000 or more (24.4% vs 13.9%) and a smaller share earning $1 to $9,999 (8.7% vs 11.2%).
| Personal income | Residents | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| No income | 5,845 | 13.4% | 12.8% |
| $1 to $9,999 | 3,805 | 8.7% | 11.2% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 2,613 | 6.0% | 7.0% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 3,510 | 8.1% | 10.5% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 3,461 | 7.9% | 9.5% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 4,773 | 10.9% | 12.6% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 5,396 | 12.4% | 14.3% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 3,579 | 8.2% | 8.2% |
| $100,000 or more | 10,617 | 24.4% | 13.9% |
Shares are of the 43,599 residents aged 15 and over, the only people the Census Bureau asks about income, and include those who reported none. A share of the whole population would count children as people without income, while a share of earners alone would hide the 13.4% with no income; the calculator adds that second share whenever your range leaves out people with no income. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19325).
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in San Rafael
| Metric | San Rafael | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.542 | 0.572 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $87,288 | $75,172 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $85,362 | $66,071 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 2.2% | 12.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In San Rafael, it is 0.542, lower than California's 0.572, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 2% more than women's income in San Rafael, California. Over a 35-year career, a 2% wage gap accumulates to roughly $67,410 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in San Rafael, California has widened from about 1% to 2% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 19% in 2020, and in 2010 women out-earned men by 8%. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,068 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in San Rafael widened by 0.8 points while California's narrowed by 4.3 points.
Employment
| Metric | San Rafael | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 25.8% | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 1,547 people are unemployed in San Rafael, California.
The average commute time in San Rafael is 21 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in San Rafael, California has fallen from 6.2% to 5.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.8% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.8% in 2018.
San Rafael started 2.4 points below the U.S. unemployment rate in 2011 but had risen above it by 2023, and has not been below it since. In 2024 its rate was 0.4 points higher.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, San Rafael, California has an overall wealth index grade of A, making it notably better than California, and notably better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in San Rafael, California.
How Rich Is San Rafael, California?
San Rafael has a wealth index grade of A. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an A grade means residents are much better off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $114,763, about 16% higher than the California average of $99,161.
How has median household income changed in San Rafael, California?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in San Rafael, California rose 50%, from $76,459 to $114,763. Over the same years, income here lagged behind California as a whole: +50% against +64%.
What was the median household income in San Rafael in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in San Rafael, California was $108,447, down 1% from $109,565 in 2022. The California median that year was $96,718.
What was the median household income in San Rafael in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in San Rafael, California was $96,412. By 2024 it had risen 19% to $114,763.
How many people earn six figures in San Rafael, California?
Yes. 24% of adults in San Rafael, California earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 4), against 18% (about 1 in 6) in California. 29% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 20% in California.
What is the Gini coefficient in San Rafael, California?
The Gini coefficient in San Rafael is 0.542. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in San Rafael, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in San Rafael, California has widened from about 1% to 2% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 19% in 2020, and in 2010 women out-earned men by 8%. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,068 since 2009.
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