How old are the homes in San Rafael, CA?

Name: Age of homes in San Rafael, CA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

71.1% (±4.2 points) of the homes in San Rafael, CA were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

9.8% were built before 1940.

2.3% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Built before 1980: 71.1% (±4.2 points)
Built before 1940: 9.8%
Built 2010 or later: 2.3%

When the homes in San Rafael were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year built	San Rafael	Marin County	California	United States
2020 or later	0.3% (±0.2 points)	0.3%	1.3%	2.0%
2010 to 2019	2.0% (±0.7 points)	2.6%	6.5%	9.4%
2000 to 2009	5.7% (±1.8 points)	5.2%	11.2%	13.6%
1990 to 1999	9.7% (±1.4 points)	7.0%	10.1%	12.4%
1980 to 1989	11.2% (±2.0 points)	10.1%	14.9%	12.9%
1970 to 1979	17.0% (±2.0 points)	19.0%	16.8%	14.2%
1960 to 1969	22.1% (±2.5 points)	18.7%	12.5%	9.9%
1950 to 1959	16.6% (±1.8 points)	18.3%	12.4%	9.5%
1940 to 1949	5.6% (±1.2 points)	6.2%	5.4%	4.4%
1939 or earlier	9.8% (±1.6 points)	12.6%	8.9%	11.7%

In San Rafael, the share of homes built before 1980 is not measurably different from Marin County (74.8%).

It is also higher than in California (56.0%).

It is higher than the national figure (49.7%).

In Marin County, San Rafael ranks 20 of 24 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 270 of 1,076.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Why the age of a home matters: lead-based paint

Federal law treats housing built before 1978 as likely to contain lead-based paint.

Before a lease or sale of most pre-1978 housing, the landlord or seller must disclose any known lead-based paint and hazards and give the tenant or buyer the EPA pamphlet (42 U.S.C. § 4852d; 40 CFR part 745, subpart F; 24 CFR part 35, subpart A).

A contractor paid to renovate, repair or paint a pre-1978 home must be a certified firm, use a certified renovator and follow lead-safe work practices under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E) whenever the job disturbs more than 6 square feet of painted surface in a room or more than 20 square feet outside; window replacement and demolition always count (40 CFR 745.83).

Certification comes from EPA, or from the state where EPA has authorized the state to run the program.

The Census Bureau groups construction by decade, so the share built before 1978 lies between the share built before 1970 (54.1%) and the share built before 1980 (71.1%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near San Rafael

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with San Rafael
Place	Distance	Homes built before 1980	Compared with this place
San Rafael	—	71.1% (±4.2 points)	—
Santa Venetia	1.7 mi	90.0% (±16.2 points)	Higher
Larkspur	3.1 mi	73.1% (±6.8 points)	Not measurably different
Ross	3.2 mi	83.2% (±12.4 points)	Not measurably different
Corte Madera	3.4 mi	76.3% (±10.6 points)	Not measurably different
San Anselmo	3.4 mi	86.3% (±8.4 points)	Higher
Kentfield	4.2 mi	89.6% (±9.9 points)	Higher
Fairfax	4.8 mi	87.8% (±11.6 points)	Higher
Sleepy Hollow	4.9 mi	86.5% (±18.0 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Santa Venetia, CA (90.0%), San Anselmo, CA (86.3%), Kentfield, CA (89.6%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Homes built before 1980 across Marin County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes built before 1980
14	Tiburon	77.3% (±10.7 points)
15	Bolinas	77.1% (±15.3 points)
16	Corte Madera	76.3% (±10.6 points)
17	Strawberry	75.9% (±11.8 points)
18	Larkspur	73.1% (±6.8 points)
19	Marin City	71.8% (±16.3 points)
20	San Rafael	71.1% (±4.2 points)
21	Alto	69.8% (±31.9 points)
22	Inverness	67.0% (±15.3 points)
23	Black Point-Green Point	65.2% (±22.6 points)
24	Novato	64.5% (±3.8 points)

Showing 11 of 24 places in Marin County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

What you can do on Seayora in San Rafael

One account for renting, owning, managing and fixing homes, with these figures beside you.

Do repairs, renovations or maintenance?

Get found by owners and renters near San Rafael, and send estimates and invoices from your phone.

Join as a pro · Find a pro

Own or manage a rental?

List it, sign the lease and collect rent online, with the figures for San Rafael beside you.

Create a landlord account · See what landlords get

Looking for a place to rent?

Browse homes for rent near San Rafael, save the ones you like and apply online.

Browse rentals · Create a renter account

Questions about San Rafael

How old are most homes in San Rafael?

71.1% of homes in San Rafael, CA were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in San Rafael need a lead paint disclosure?

A home built before 1978 does, before it is rented or sold, unless an exemption applies (42 U.S.C. § 4852d); between 54.1% and 71.1% of homes in San Rafael were built before then.

Does a contractor need lead certification to work on older homes in San Rafael?

Yes, when the job disturbs more than 6 square feet of paint in a room or 20 square feet outside, or replaces a window: the firm must be certified and a certified renovator must direct the work under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E).

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — San Rafael city, California

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for San Rafael city, California (place:68364, in state:06).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0017PE, DP04_0017PM, DP04_0018PE, DP04_0018PM, DP04_0019PE, DP04_0019PM, DP04_0020PE, DP04_0020PM, DP04_0021PE, DP04_0021PM, DP04_0022PE, DP04_0022PM, DP04_0023PE, DP04_0023PM, DP04_0024PE, DP04_0024PM, DP04_0025PE, DP04_0025PM, DP04_0026PE, DP04_0026PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.