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2025 Compare Cities Housing:
San Rafael, CA vs Palo Alto, CA

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Highlights
- The median age of a home in San Rafael is 7.3% younger than the median age of a home in Palo Alto.
 San Rafael, CAPalo Alto, CAUnited States
 Median Home Age55  Unlock42
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$3,107,600$338,100
 Home Appr. Last 12 months15.4%  Unlock16.6%
 Home Appr. Last 5 yrs.  Unlock18.5%57.0%
 Home Appr. Last 10 yrs.108.2%  Unlock101.1%
 Property Tax Rate  Unlock$7.4$11.0
 Homes Owned48.8%  Unlock57.4%
 Housing Vacant  Unlock8.9%11.2%
 Homes Rented47.7%  Unlock31.4%
 space
 Avg Rent For Home Or Apartment
 San Rafael, CAPalo Alto, CAUnited States
 Average Rent  Unlock$4,050$1,840
 Studio Apartment$2,240  Unlock$1,080
 1 Bedroom Home or Apartment  Unlock$2,750$1,180
 2 Bedroom Home or Apartment$3,300  Unlock$1,430
 3 Bedroom Home or Apartment  Unlock$4,100$1,860
 4 Bedroom Home or Apartment$4,440  Unlock$2,160
 space1
 Vacant Housing
 San Rafael, CAPalo Alto, CAUnited States
 Vacant For Rent  Unlock3.2%1.9%
 Vacant Rented0.7%  Unlock0.4%
 Vacant For Sale  Unlock0.3%0.7%
 Vacant Sold0.0%  Unlock0.4%
 Vacant Vacation  Unlock0.8%3.6%
 Vacant Other1.2%  Unlock4.1%
 space2
 Owner-Occupied Housing Value
 San Rafael, CAPalo Alto, CAUnited States
 Less Than $20,000  Unlock1.0%2.6%
 $20,000 to $39,9990.1%  Unlock2.4%
 $40,000 to $59,999  Unlock0.1%2.8%
 $60,000 to $79,9990.0%  Unlock3.9%
 $80,000 to $99,999  Unlock0.0%4.5%
 $100,000 to $149,9990.8%  Unlock11.3%
 $150,000 to $199,999  Unlock0.3%13.0%
 $200,000 to $299,9991.4%  Unlock20.1%
 $300,000 to $399,999  Unlock0.6%13.6%
 $400,000 to $499,9994.5%  Unlock8.3%
 $500,000 to $749,999  Unlock1.7%9.7%
 $750,000 to $999,99925.7%  Unlock3.9%
 $1,000,000 to $1,499,999  Unlock8.0%2.2%
 $1,500,000 to $1,999,99910.6%  Unlock0.8%
 $2,000,000 and over  Unlock75.5%1.1%
 space3
 Housing Units By Year Built
 San Rafael, CAPalo Alto, CAUnited States
 2015 and Newer0.0%  Unlock0.2%
 2010 to 2014  Unlock10.7%13.6%
 2000 to 20094.7%  Unlock13.6%
 1990 to 1999  Unlock6.1%13.6%
 1980 to 198911.5%  Unlock13.2%
 1970 to 1979  Unlock12.3%14.8%
 1960 to 19698.4%  Unlock13.6%
 1950 to 1959  Unlock26.9%10.0%
 1940 to 19495.7%  Unlock4.7%
 1939 or Earlier  Unlock13.0%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 Palo Alto    8 Reviews
David · Palo Alto, CA
Wonderful place to live, except for the cost of li
Over 16 years ago

The Bay Area in general, but Palo Alto specifically provides many of the qualities sought by many; the climate is beautiful, there is access to cultural and recreational  More

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David · Menlo Park, CA
Cost of Living
Over 17 years ago

Very  More

   |    Reply
Lawrence · Palo Alto, CA
Public transit
Over 18 years ago

VTA and SamsTrans and Caltrain all provide good service and most times frequency of service is  More

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Learn More About San Rafael, California
Overview
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Learn More About Palo Alto, California
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