ZIP 94901
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Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in ZIP 94901 usually run 1.5% below trend in January and 1.6% above it in July, about $87 a month apart at today's median. Based on 8 years of data.
Rent in ZIP 94901 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in February 2018.
Rent in ZIP 94901 changed +4.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.2%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 94901 rose 18.7% while median household income rose 27.5% ($90,440 to $115,330). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in ZIP 94901 is 24.5% 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 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($115,330) is $2,883 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,580); a 2-bedroom is $3,120.
ZIP 94801, 7 miles away, rents for 20% less ($2,263/mo), about $6,700 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 94901. 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.
Who lives here
ZIP 94901 (San Rafael, CA) is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income above the national average, 49% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 94901 in San Rafael, CA has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2021, rent in ZIP 94901 in San Rafael, CA has climbed by $615 per month, settling near $2,822 after starting the period at $2,207. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 94901 in San Rafael, CA now reports about $115,330, up from $105,706 in 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 18.8 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 42,307 to 41,307 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.4% change. About 49% of households rent today, against 51.2% in 2021. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 94901 in San Rafael, CA reflects that arc in its own way.
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Tips for renters in ZIP 94901
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 94901 covers San Rafael, CA. The median rent here is $2,822/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,580/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $3,120/mo.
At 29% of local median household income ($115,330/yr), ZIP 94901 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does ZIP 94901 compare to other ZIPs in California?
How does ZIP 94901 compare to the rest of San Rafael?
At $2,822/mo, rent takes ~29% of ZIP 94901's median household income ($115,330/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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