Rents are 3% above what Mill Valley's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $4,617 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 →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in Mill Valley usually run 1.9% below trend in January and 1.3% above it in June, about $148 a month apart at today's median. Based on 6 years of data.
Rent in Mill Valley is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2019.
Rent in Mill Valley changed +8.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Mill Valley rose 24.5% while median household income rose 26% ($163,614 to $206,212). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Mill Valley is 41.2% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($206,212) is $5,155 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($4,890).
Sausalito, 3 miles away, rents for 14% less ($3,984/mo), about $7,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Mill Valley. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
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.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Mill Valley, CA has changed in 5 years
Rent in Mill Valley, CA has increased 31.4% since 2021, going from about $3,514 per month to roughly $4,617 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 16.5 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.
Discussions about Mill Valley
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Mill Valley on your salary?
At $4,617/mo, how Mill Valley rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Mill Valley rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Mill Valley. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Mill Valley
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Mill Valley is $4,617/mo as of October 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 27% of local median household income ($206,212/yr), Mill Valley ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 8.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Mill Valley?
Is rent going up or down in Mill Valley?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Mill Valley?
Has rent outpaced income in Mill Valley?
How does Mill Valley rent compare to other cities in California?
At $4,617/mo, rent takes ~27% of Mill Valley's median household income ($206,212/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Mill Valley.
No discussions yet.