Population 257,969 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Marin County
Household size in Marin County
| Period | Marin County | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.39 | 2.74 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.47 | 2.79 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.46 | 2.83 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.57 | 2.75 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.18 | +0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Marin County run a little small, averaging 2.57 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size has climbed from 2.39 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the east.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Marin County
| Period | Marin County | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.4 | 38.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.3 | 39.4 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.0 | 40.1 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.0 | 41.3 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.7 | +2.7 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 48.0, Marin County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 44.4 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the east, the oldest in the northwest.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Marin County
| Period | Marin County | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.3% | 10.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 9.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.3% | 9.1% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.3% | 8.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.0 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Marin County: 8.3% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The picture is much the same across the San Francisco area.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Marin County
Renters in Marin County
| Period | Marin County | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.0% | 43.7% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 37.4% | 46.2% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.3% | 45.3% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 35.3% | 44.5% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over a third of households in Marin County rent their homes (35.3%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in the wider San Francisco area (44.5%). Among homeowners, 34.1% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 0.7 points, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Marin County
| Period | Marin County | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 8.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.7% | 7.1% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.2% | 6.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 7.5% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Marin County as nationally: 8.1%, against 9.6%. Vacancy is little changed from 2006–10, while the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Marin County
| Period | Marin County | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1965 | 1964 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1965 | 1965 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1965 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1966 | 1968 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Marin County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1966, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the west. Few California counties have older homes: only two of 58.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Marin County
| Period | Marin County | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,587 | $1,452 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,655 | $1,551 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,277 | $2,139 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,845 | $2,666 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,258 | +$1,214 | +$931 | +$606 |
Rent in Marin County runs $2,845 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,258 a month since 2006–10, up 79%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 34.1% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Of California's 58 counties, only two have higher rents.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Marin County
Bachelor's degrees in Marin County
| Period | Marin County | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 53.8% | 42.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 54.8% | 44.1% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 59.0% | 48.9% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 60.6% | 52.2% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.7 pts | +9.7 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Marin County is highly educated: about six in ten adults 25 and older (60.6%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 6.7 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. No other California county has a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Marin County
| Period | Marin County | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.5% | 86.8% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.3% | 87.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.6% | 88.8% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.1% | 89.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Marin County have finished high school (92.1%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 0.6 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Marin County has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of California counties.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Marin County
| Period | Marin County | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.6% | 7.8% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.0% | 8.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.7% | 4.6% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 5.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs a little high in Marin County: 6.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged up 0.6 points, even as the national rate fell. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Marin County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marin County | 2.57 | 48.0 | 8.3% | 35.3% | 8.1% | 1966 | $2,845 | 60.6% | 92.1% | 6.2% |
| Contra Costa County | 2.91 | 41.2 | 10.5% | 32.0% | 4.6% | 1978 | $2,615 | 44.4% | 89.1% | 6.4% |
| San Joaquin County | 3.34 | 36.1 | 15.2% | 38.0% | 7.0% | 1985 | $1,997 | 23.3% | 80.2% | 7.4% |
| Tuolumne County | 2.28 | 48.6 | 9.5% | 26.1% | 21.2% | 1979 | $1,371 | 24.1% | 93.5% | 8.5% |
| San Miguel County | 1.81 | 45.7 | 8.5% | 37.0% | 32.0% | 1993 | $2,022 | 67.4% | 98.4% | 2.7% |
| San Juan County | 1.81 | 37.5 | 6.3% | 47.1% | 45.9% | 1979 | $992 | 52.1% | 100.0% | 9.4% |
| Hinsdale County | 1.96 | 48.5 | 16.4% | 23.9% | 62.0% | 1984 | $1,171 | 47.7% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Saguache County | 1.98 | 50.1 | 10.4% | 23.1% | 13.4% | 1987 | $940 | 30.9% | 91.8% | 9.2% |
| Otero County | 2.47 | 41.0 | 12.9% | 31.1% | 14.6% | 1959 | $862 | 20.0% | 88.8% | 6.8% |
| Bent County | 2.28 | 42.7 | 14.6% | 34.8% | 12.8% | 1963 | $1,203 | 16.0% | 83.6% | 6.0% |
| Prowers County | 2.51 | 37.4 | 11.5% | 32.9% | 14.5% | 1968 | $865 | 19.2% | 86.8% | 5.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Yuma County, AZ · Harrison County, MS · Hawaii County, HI · Clay County, FL · Hays County, TX · Clermont County, OH · St. Joseph County, IN · St. Louis County, MN · Hall County, GA · Boulder County, CO
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Marin County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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