United States › California › San Rafael CITY · 2000 CENSUS
San Rafael California · 56,063 residents · 16.6 sq mi
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The short version
San Rafael is a city of 56,063 people in California. The typical home is worth $457,000. This is an unusually credentialed place: 44% of adults have a four-year degree. Median rent is $1,040 a month. Owners hold 54% of the housing stock. That is roughly 28% ahead of the California median.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 38.5
US median: 35.2
More educated
44% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01
Population & growth from 37.4 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
47K 51K 55K 59K 63K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 San Rafael Age distribution, 2000
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $60,994
+10%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $41,922 in 1990
US average: $42,589
from $24,230 in 1990
US average: $21,522
from 8.1% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
$457,000
+1%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $342,700 in 1990
US average: $120,530
$1,040
+8%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $730 in 1990
US average: $602
from 54.5% in 1990
46.2% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 1990
White, non-Hispanic 83.8%(40,563)
Hispanic / Latino 13.5%(6,517)
2000
White, non-Hispanic 65.9%(36,960)
Hispanic / Latino 23.3%(13,070)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.
Hispanic origin
+ 8 more hispanic origin groups with data Asian origin
+ 2 more asian origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 39 more ancestry groups with data from 38.4% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
from 89.0% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
from 14.2% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 26.7 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07
Work & employment No data for the years selected.
Section 08
People & community No data for the years selected.
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 34.9%(7,974)
Women 15+
Never married 27.5%(6,625)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 13.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 53.8% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 18.7% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 20.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 19.5% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 0.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 69.7% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 38.0% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 17.5%(259)
Gulf War (1990s) 8.7%(129)
Share of the 1,481 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in San Rafael, California? San Rafael, California has about 56,063 residents according to the 2000 Census.
What is the median household income in San Rafael, California? The typical household in San Rafael, California earns about $60,994 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is San Rafael, California expensive? In San Rafael, California, the median home is worth about $457,000, and the typical rent is about $1,040 a month.
How educated are people in San Rafael, California? About 43.6% of adults age 25 and over in San Rafael, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in San Rafael, California? About 10.2% of people in San Rafael, California live below the federal poverty line.
Has San Rafael, California grown since 1990? Yes, San Rafael, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 7,659 residents, a change of about 16 percent over that period.
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