Oakland and San Rafael receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | Oakland | San Rafael | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 439,418 | 60,433 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $101,600 | $119,435 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $61,757 | $70,031 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 7,852/sq mi | 3,643/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $929,900 | $1,355,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,979 | $2,377 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 42.3% | 53.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% | 3.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.7% | -2.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 48.7% | 49.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.4% | 11.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 991 | 134 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.3 | 2.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 240.5% | 436.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 72°F | 66°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 42°F | 47°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 18.7" | 22.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 3 mi | 24 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 32.5 min | 27.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.9 | 43.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 132 | 15 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 19.52 | 20.70 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 73.6% | 58.6% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Oakland
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
San Rafael
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, coastal flooding, inland flooding.
Your best match
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Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Oakland, CA · San Rafael, CA · How this is calculated: methodology