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City Report · CA

Corte Madera

Pop. 10,077·10th most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$5,832/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
-1.4%
vs US Median
+$3,870
Falling (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Corte Madera · $5,832
More expensive than 99% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo
Affordability
30% of income
MODERATE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $5,832/mo, rent takes about 30% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$233,000/yr
Local median income
$232,763/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Corte Madera's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$2,770
1 BR
$3,390
2 BR
$4,040
3 BR
$5,040
4 BR+
$5,360
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$4,040/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $5,832 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost
$69,984/yr
At $5,832/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Renter's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are softening (down 0.0% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -1.4% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Corte Madera, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 79.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
10,077
Median income
$232,763
Median age
45.9
Renters
31.2%
Age distribution
25.6%
31.1%
12.6%
18.8%
Under 1825.6%
18–3411.9%
35–5431.1%
55–6412.6%
65+18.8%
Gender
50.9%
49.1%
Male50.9%
Female49.1%
Race & ethnicity
72.9%
12.1%
White72.9%
Black1.8%
Hispanic12.1%
Asian7.1%
Other6.1%
Education (25+)
13.2%
79.3%
No HS diploma1.5%
HS diploma6.1%
Some college13.2%
Bachelor's+79.3%
Housing tenure
68.8%
31.2%
Owner68.8%
Renter31.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Corte Madera, CA has changed in 5 years

Income
$183,661 → $232,763
up 26.7%
Population
10,145 → 10,077
down 0.7%
Renter share
29.4% → 31.2%
+1.8 pts
Bachelor's+
74.1% → 79.3%
+5.2 pts
Median age
44.3 → 45.9
+1.6 yrs

Median household income grew from $183,661 to $232,763 between 2021 and 2024, a 26.7% shift. About 31.2% of households rent today, against 29.4% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 74.1% to 79.3%.

Community

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View Corte Madera rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Corte Madera on your salary?

At $5,832/mo, how Corte Madera rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Corte Madera rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Corte Madera. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Corte Madera

About renting in Corte Madera, CA

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Corte Madera is $5,832/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,770/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $4,040/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $3,390/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $5,040/mo.

At 30% of local median household income ($232,763/yr), Corte Madera ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Corte Madera an affordable city for renters?

Corte Madera is considered moderate for renters. At $5,832/mo, rent takes approximately 30% of the local median household income ($232,763/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Corte Madera slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Corte Madera?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $233,000/year (~$112/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $5,832/mo in Corte Madera. The local median household income is $232,763/yr, meaning the typical Corte Madera household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Corte Madera?

Rent in Corte Madera has been relatively stable over the past year, with a 0.0% change year over year as of August 2026.

How does Corte Madera rent compare to other cities in California?

Corte Madera is one of the pricier cities in California for rent, ranking #10 out of 381 tracked cities at $5,832/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Corte Madera?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Corte Madera ($5,832/mo): San Rafael ($3,100/mo), Sausalito ($4,037/mo), Larkspur ($4,094/mo).

What percentage of Corte Madera residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 31.2% of Corte Madera households are renters, while 68.8% are owner-occupied. Corte Madera leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Corte Madera rent compare to the national average?

Corte Madera's median rent of $5,832/mo is $3,870 (197%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within California, it ranks #10 out of 381 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
30%
MODERATE

At $5,832/mo, rent takes ~30% of Corte Madera's median household income ($232,763/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Corte Madera 30%Benchmark 30%
State income tax1–13.3%
Run the Corte Madera affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Corte Madera
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Corte Madera, CA

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