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2025 Compare Cities Housing:
San Rafael, CA vs Palm Desert, CA

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Highlights
- The median age of a home in San Rafael is 36.4% older than the median age of a home in Palm Desert.
 San Rafael, CAPalm Desert, CAUnited States
 Median Home Age55  Unlock42
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$539,000$338,100
 Home Appr. Last 12 months15.4%  Unlock16.6%
 Home Appr. Last 5 yrs.  Unlock83.1%57.0%
 Home Appr. Last 10 yrs.108.2%  Unlock101.1%
 Property Tax Rate  Unlock$10.5$11.0
 Homes Owned48.8%  Unlock57.4%
 Housing Vacant  Unlock35.3%11.2%
 Homes Rented47.7%  Unlock31.4%
 space
 Avg Rent For Home Or Apartment
 San Rafael, CAPalm Desert, CAUnited States
 Average Rent  Unlock$2,590$1,840
 Studio Apartment$2,240  Unlock$1,080
 1 Bedroom Home or Apartment  Unlock$1,550$1,180
 2 Bedroom Home or Apartment$3,300  Unlock$1,430
 3 Bedroom Home or Apartment  Unlock$2,630$1,860
 4 Bedroom Home or Apartment$4,440  Unlock$2,160
 space1
 Vacant Housing
 San Rafael, CAPalm Desert, CAUnited States
 Vacant For Rent  Unlock1.5%1.9%
 Vacant Rented0.7%  Unlock0.4%
 Vacant For Sale  Unlock1.7%0.7%
 Vacant Sold0.0%  Unlock0.4%
 Vacant Vacation  Unlock30.0%3.6%
 Vacant Other1.2%  Unlock4.1%
 space2
 Owner-Occupied Housing Value
 San Rafael, CAPalm Desert, CAUnited States
 Less Than $20,000  Unlock1.3%2.6%
 $20,000 to $39,9990.1%  Unlock2.4%
 $40,000 to $59,999  Unlock2.0%2.8%
 $60,000 to $79,9990.0%  Unlock3.9%
 $80,000 to $99,999  Unlock0.9%4.5%
 $100,000 to $149,9990.8%  Unlock11.3%
 $150,000 to $199,999  Unlock6.7%13.0%
 $200,000 to $299,9991.4%  Unlock20.1%
 $300,000 to $399,999  Unlock21.0%13.6%
 $400,000 to $499,9994.5%  Unlock8.3%
 $500,000 to $749,999  Unlock19.4%9.7%
 $750,000 to $999,99925.7%  Unlock3.9%
 $1,000,000 to $1,499,999  Unlock3.2%2.2%
 $1,500,000 to $1,999,99910.6%  Unlock0.8%
 $2,000,000 and over  Unlock1.6%1.1%
 space3
 Housing Units By Year Built
 San Rafael, CAPalm Desert, CAUnited States
 2015 and Newer0.0%  Unlock0.2%
 2010 to 2014  Unlock11.5%13.6%
 2000 to 20094.7%  Unlock13.6%
 1990 to 1999  Unlock20.0%13.6%
 1980 to 198911.5%  Unlock13.2%
 1970 to 1979  Unlock20.5%14.8%
 1960 to 19698.4%  Unlock13.6%
 1950 to 1959  Unlock3.5%10.0%
 1940 to 19495.7%  Unlock4.7%
 1939 or Earlier  Unlock0.5%12.2%
Transportation
Reviews for San Rafael    7 Reviews
Monica · San Rafael, CA
Moderation is always good
Over 13 years ago

San Rafael is only 30 minutes from downtown San Francisco, but the weather is completely different. It's sunny most of the year, including in the summer when the city  More

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Jonathan · San Rafael, CA
Crime
Over 15 years ago

I feal very safe in this town. I think getting stopped for talking on your cell phone while driving is a big deal here. Thats about all I can  More

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David · San Rafael, CA
San Rafael
Over 17 years ago

Cost of living too high. Unfriendly  More

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Reviews for Palm Desert    14 Reviews
Blake · Palm Desert, CA
Worst Place Ever
Over 4 years ago

Palm Desert, CA is full of rude people. One woman in a long sleeved pink shirt is being extremely rude and mocking people for no reason at a neighborhood Walmart in Palm  More

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M · Palm Desert, CA
A fading Gem because of Dem
Over 4 years ago

Palm Desert is clean, upscale and beautiful. The views of the Santa Rosa Mountains bright blue sky and green expanses of golf course fairways, swimming pools and  More

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JJ · Palm Desert, CA
Very unhealthy place to live!!
Over 9 years ago

I made the mistake of moving here after a short vacation to be closer to family. Biggest mistake of my life! This is not the place to live if health is important to you.  More

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Learn More About San Rafael, California
Overview
Cost of Living
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Learn More About Palm Desert, California
Overview
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