City Report · CA

San Marino

Pop. 12,216·4th most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$7,866/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

+5.0%

vs US Median

+$5,934

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

San Marino · $7,866

More expensive than 100% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Affordability

44% of income

STRETCHED

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $7,866/mo, rent takes about 44% of the local median household income, well above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$315,000/yr

Local median income

$214,167/yr

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

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: August 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($214,167) is $5,354 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($4,070).

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

Annual cost

$94,392/yr

At $7,866/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 0.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +5.0% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

San Marino, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 82.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

12,216

Median income

$214,167

Median age

45.7

Renters

17.2%

Age distribution

23.8%

14.4%

25%

14.4%

22.3%

Under 1823.8%

18–3414.4%

35–5425%

55–6414.4%

65+22.3%

Gender

50.6%

49.4%

Male50.6%

Female49.4%

Race & ethnicity

22.7%

68.1%

White22.7%

Hispanic5.3%

Asian68.1%

Other3.8%

Education (25+)

82.6%

No HS diploma3.3%

HS diploma3.6%

Some college10.5%

Bachelor's+82.6%

Housing tenure

82.8%

17.2%

Owner82.8%

Renter17.2%

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

2021 vs 2026

How San Marino, CA has changed in 5 years

Income

$174,722 → $214,167

up 22.6%

Population

12,620 → 12,216

down 3.2%

Renter share

15.7% → 17.2%

+1.5 pts

Bachelor's+

80.8% → 82.6%

+1.8 pts

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $174,722 in 2021 to $214,167 more recently. The population has contracted by 3.2% since 2021, moving from about 12,620 residents to roughly 12,216. Renters now make up 17.2% of households, compared with 15.7% five years ago.

Community

Discussions about San Marino

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View San Marino rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in San Marino on your salary?

At $7,866/mo, how San Marino rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 84.7% income

severely rent-burdened

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 119.3% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 103.5% income

severely rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 57.9% income

severely rent-burdened

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 45.3% income

rent-burdened

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 127.4% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 141.1% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 114.4% income

severely rent-burdened

By apartment size

San Marino rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in San Marino

About renting in San Marino, CA

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in San Marino is $7,866/mo as of August 2026.

At 44% of local median household income ($214,167/yr), San Marino ranks as moderate 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 Marino?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $315,000/year (about $151/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $7,866/mo in San Marino. The local median household income is $214,167/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in San Marino?

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

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

San Marino is one of the pricier among California cities for rent, ranking #4 of 382 tracked cities at $7,866/mo.

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

Nearby cities with lower median rent than San Marino ($7,866/mo) include Alhambra ($2,645/mo), South Pasadena ($2,649/mo), and San Gabriel ($2,706/mo).

Income Affordability

44%

STRETCHED

At $7,866/mo, rent takes ~44% of San Marino's median household income ($214,167/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

San Marino 44%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the San Marino affordability calculator →

Nearby cities