ZIP Code · CA

ZIP 94903

Part of San Rafael, CA

Pop. 30,615·Marin County·205th most expensive ZIP in California

Median rent (all units)

$3,415/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.5%

Month-over-Month

+0.4%

vs US Median

+$1,483

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 94903 · $3,415

More expensive than 95% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,880

1 BR

$3,450

2 BR

$4,180

3 BR

$5,340

4 BR+

$5,530

Research median

$4,180/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: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

February. Asking rents in ZIP 94903 usually run 1.7% below trend in February and 1.2% above it in September, about $99 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 94903 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in April 2020.

Past year vs. the rest of California

Rent in ZIP 94903 changed +3.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.2%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($142,083) is $3,552 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($3,450); a 2-bedroom is $4,180.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 94901, 4 miles away, rents for 17% less ($2,822/mo), about $7,100 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 94903. 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.

Annual cost

$40,980/yr

At $3,415/mo median

Location

CitySan Rafael

StateCA

CountyMarin County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.5% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.5% YoY, +0.4% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 94903 (San Rafael, CA) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 55.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

30,615

Median income

$142,083

Median age

49.5

Renters

34.2%

Age distribution

16.2%

17.9%

24.7%

15.2%

26%

Under 1816.2%

18–3417.9%

35–5424.7%

55–6415.2%

65+26%

Gender

45.5%

54.5%

Male45.5%

Female54.5%

Race & ethnicity

66.9%

19.4%

White66.9%

Black3.7%

Hispanic19.4%

Asian6.1%

Other3.8%

Education (25+)

12.5%

23.8%

55.5%

No HS diploma8.2%

HS diploma12.5%

Some college23.8%

Bachelor's+55.5%

Housing tenure

65.8%

34.2%

Owner65.8%

Renter34.2%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 94903 in San Rafael, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,822 → $3,415

up 21.0%

Income

$111,423 → $142,083

up 27.5%

Population

31,150 → 30,615

down 1.7%

Renter share

34.6% → 34.2%

-0.4 pts

Bachelor's+

55.5% → 55.5%

+0.0 pts

Five years ago, renters in ZIP 94903 in San Rafael, CA paid around $2,822 a month. That figure now sits near $3,415, up 21.0% from the 2021 baseline. Median household income climbed from $111,423 to $142,083 between 2021 and 2024, a 27.5% shift. With wages climbing faster than rent over the same window, renters here have a bit more breathing room than they did five years back. Census counts show ZIP 94903 in San Rafael, CA losing about 535 residents over the five-year window, down 1.7% on net. Taken together, the five-year picture in ZIP 94903 in San Rafael, CA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

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About renting in ZIP 94903

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 94903 covers San Rafael, CA. The median rent here is $3,415/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $3,450/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $4,180/mo.

At 29% of local median household income ($142,083/yr), ZIP 94903 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 94903?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $137,000/year (about $66/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,415/mo in ZIP 94903. The local median household income is $142,083/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 94903?

Rent in ZIP 94903 has risen 3.5% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in April 2020.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 94903?

Asking rents in ZIP 94903 are usually lowest in February, about 1.7% below their yearly trend, and highest in September, about 1.2% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $99 a month. This pattern comes from 5 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 94903 compare to other ZIPs in California?

ZIP 94903 is one of the pricier among California ZIP codes for rent, ranking #205 of 898 at $3,415/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 94903 changed +3.5%, against a typical +3.2% across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks.