How much does it cost to rent in Mill Valley, CA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Mill Valley, CA is $5,305. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Mill Valley cheaper than other California cities?

Mill Valley is one of the pricier cities in California, ranking #16 out of 387 cities tracked at $5,305/mo.

When was Mill Valley rent data last updated?

Mill Valley rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · CA

Mill Valley

Name: Average Rent Prices in Mill Valley, CA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 14,012·16th most expensive in California·Mill Valley rents are up 71.9% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$5,305/mo

Year-over-Year

+71.9%

Month-over-Month

+16.7%

vs US Median

+$3,340

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Mill Valley · $5,305

More expensive than 99% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Affordability

31% of income

MODERATE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $5,305/mo, rent takes about 31% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$212,000/yr

Local median income

$206,212/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Mill Valley's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,530

1 BR

$3,090

2 BR

$3,690

3 BR

$4,600

4 BR+

$4,890

Research median

$3,690/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$63,660/yr

At $5,305/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 71.9% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+71.9% YoY, +16.7% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Mill Valley, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 75.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

14,012

Median income

$206,212

Median age

48.7

Renters

33.8%

Age distribution

18.6%

15.1%

27%

15.8%

23.5%

Under 1818.6%

18–3415.1%

35–5427%

55–6415.8%

65+23.5%

Gender

48.1%

51.9%

Male48.1%

Female51.9%

Race & ethnicity

81.2%

White81.2%

Black0.8%

Hispanic4.8%

Asian8.4%

Other4.8%

Education (25+)

15.6%

75.8%

No HS diploma1.3%

HS diploma7.2%

Some college15.6%

Bachelor's+75.8%

Housing tenure

66.2%

33.8%

Owner66.2%

Renter33.8%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Mill Valley, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,935 → $5,305

up 80.7%

Income

$179,529 → $206,212

up 14.9%

Population

14,240 → 14,012

down 1.6%

Renter share

33.8% → 33.8%

+0.0 pts

Bachelor's+

75.4% → 75.8%

+0.4 pts

Median age

47.9 → 48.7

+0.8 yrs

Rent in Mill Valley, CA has increased 80.7% since 2021, going from about $2,935 per month to roughly $5,305 today. Household income in the area moved from $179,529 to $206,212 across the same window, up 14.9% versus 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 65.8 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 14,240 to 14,012 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.6% change. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Mill Valley, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about Mill Valley

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View Mill Valley rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Mill Valley on your salary?

At $5,305/mo, how Mill Valley rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 57.1% income

severely rent-burdened

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 80.4% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 69.8% income

severely rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 39.1% income

stretched

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 30.6% income

stretched

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 85.9% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 95.1% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 77.2% income

severely rent-burdened

By apartment size

Mill Valley rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Mill Valley. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Mill Valley

About renting in Mill Valley, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Mill Valley is $5,305/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,530/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,690/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $3,090/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,600/mo.

At 31% of local median household income ($206,212/yr), Mill Valley ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 71.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Mill Valley an affordable city for renters?

Mill Valley is considered moderate for renters. At $5,305/mo, rent takes approximately 31% of the local median household income ($206,212/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Mill Valley slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Mill Valley?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $212,000/year (~$102/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $5,305/mo in Mill Valley. The local median household income is $206,212/yr, meaning the typical Mill Valley household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Mill Valley?

Rent in Mill Valley has increased 71.9% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Mill Valley rent compare to other cities in California?

Mill Valley is one of the pricier cities in California for rent, ranking #16 out of 387 tracked cities at $5,305/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Mill Valley?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Mill Valley ($5,305/mo): Fairfax ($3,588/mo), Sausalito ($3,677/mo), Larkspur ($4,077/mo).

What percentage of Mill Valley residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 33.8% of Mill Valley households are renters, while 66.2% are owner-occupied. Mill Valley leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Mill Valley rent compare to the national average?

Mill Valley's median rent of $5,305/mo is $3,340 (170%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #16 out of 387 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

31%

MODERATE

At $5,305/mo, rent takes ~31% of Mill Valley's median household income ($206,212/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Mill Valley 31%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Mill Valley affordability calculator →

Nearby cities