San Francisco Bay Area relocation guide
Moving to San Rafael, CA
$1,150,000Median listing price
MarinArea
San Francisco commuteCommute profile
About San Rafael
San Rafael is the Marin County seat (about 60,000 residents), centered on the Mission San Rafael Arcángel. Known for its downtown 4th Street, the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Marin County Civic Center, and the Canal waterfront district, it is Marin's commercial and government hub with easy freeway access.
Home prices in San Rafael
The median listing price in San Rafael is $1,150,000.
Top places in San Rafael
- Mission San Rafael Arcángel — 1817 mission and museum.
- Marin County Civic Center — Frank Lloyd Wright's landmark government building.
- Downtown 4th Street — shops, restaurants, and the Rafael Film Center.
- San Rafael Creek and the Canal waterfront (shown in the Commons photo below).
- China Camp State Park (nearby) — bayfront trails and historic shrimp-fishing village.
Commuting from San Rafael
- SMART commuter rail (San Rafael station) to Larkspur, connecting to the Golden Gate Ferry — roughly 60–75 minutes total to downtown San Francisco.
- Golden Gate Transit buses to San Francisco — roughly 45–60 minutes.
- Approximate drive to downtown San Francisco via US-101 and the Golden Gate Bridge: ~30–50 minutes (toll and traffic dependent).
Schools in San Rafael
Public schools: San Rafael City Schools. For enrollment and performance data, see the state report card in Town links below. Confirm school assignment for any address directly with the district.
San Rafael FAQs
- What is the housing market like in San Rafael, CA?
The median listing price in San Rafael is $1,150,000. Median listing price (September 2026 research snapshot) - How is the commute from San Rafael, CA?
SMART commuter rail (San Rafael station) to Larkspur, connecting to the Golden Gate Ferry — roughly 60–75 minutes total to downtown San Francisco. - Which school district serves San Rafael, CA?
San Rafael is served by San Rafael City Schools. See the state report card in Town links, and confirm school assignment for a specific address with the district.
Town links
Schools
Transit
Official town resources. School report cards via the National Center for Education Statistics.