City Report · CA

San Anselmo

Pop. 12,679·46th most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$4,027/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
+2.5%
vs US Median
+$2,095
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
San Anselmo · $4,027
More expensive than 98% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
28% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $4,027/mo, rent takes about 28% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$161,000/yr
Local median income
$173,641/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using San Anselmo's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$2,210
1 BR
$2,710
2 BR
$3,230
3 BR
$4,030
4 BR+
$4,280
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$3,230/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $4,027 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: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($173,641) is $4,341 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($4,280).

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for San Anselmo. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$48,324/yr
At $4,027/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (0.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +2.5% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

San Anselmo, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 70.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
12,679
Median income
$173,641
Median age
45.6
Renters
31.6%
Age distribution
23.7%
28.3%
14.7%
21.6%
Under 1823.7%
18–3411.7%
35–5428.3%
55–6414.7%
65+21.6%
Gender
48.7%
51.3%
Male48.7%
Female51.3%
Race & ethnicity
76.6%
White76.6%
Black1.7%
Hispanic10.5%
Asian6.1%
Other5.1%
Education (25+)
19.9%
70.6%
No HS diploma2%
HS diploma7.6%
Some college19.9%
Bachelor's+70.6%
Housing tenure
68.4%
31.6%
Owner68.4%
Renter31.6%

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

2021 vs 2026

How San Anselmo, CA has changed in 5 years

Income
$153,381 → $173,641
up 13.2%
Population
12,795 → 12,679
down 0.9%
Renter share
31.2% → 31.6%
+0.4 pts
Bachelor's+
72.3% → 70.6%
-1.7 pts
Median age
44.9 → 45.6
+0.7 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $153,381 to $173,641 across the same window, up 13.2% versus 2021.

Community

Discussions about San Anselmo

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View San Anselmo rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in San Anselmo on your salary?

At $4,027/mo, how San Anselmo rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

San Anselmo rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in San Anselmo. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in San Anselmo

About renting in San Anselmo, CA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in San Anselmo is $4,027/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,210/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,230/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,710/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,030/mo.

At 28% of local median household income ($173,641/yr), San Anselmo ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in San Anselmo?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $161,000/year (about $77/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $4,027/mo in San Anselmo. The local median household income is $173,641/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in San Anselmo?

Rent in San Anselmo has been roughly flat over the past year, a 0.0% change.

How does San Anselmo rent compare to other cities in California?

San Anselmo is one of the pricier among California cities for rent, ranking #46 of 382 tracked cities at $4,027/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than San Anselmo?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than San Anselmo ($4,027/mo) include Fairfax ($3,150/mo), and San Rafael ($3,166/mo).
Income Affordability
28%
AFFORDABLE

At $4,027/mo, rent takes ~28% of San Anselmo's median household income ($173,641/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

San Anselmo 28%Benchmark 30%
State income tax1–13.3%
Run the San Anselmo affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near San Anselmo, CA

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