Population 8,778 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Northgate: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Northgate
Household size in Northgate
| Period | Northgate | San Rafael | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.01 | 2.45 | 2.74 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.07 | 2.65 | 2.79 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.01 | 2.60 | 2.83 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.45 | 2.72 | 2.75 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.44 | +0.26 | +0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Northgate run small, averaging 2.45 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.01, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the south and smallest 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 Northgate
| Period | Northgate | San Rafael | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.0 | 42.6 | 38.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.0 | 43.1 | 39.4 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.2 | 43.2 | 40.1 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.7 | 45.0 | 41.3 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | −3.3 | +2.3 | +2.7 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Northgate skews a little older than the country: its median age is 41.7, against 40.1 nationally. Still, the population here is younger than in San Rafael as a whole, where the median age is 45.0. The median age has dropped from 45.0 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose.
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 Northgate
| Period | Northgate | San Rafael | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.8% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.5% | 10.0% | 9.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.2% | 10.6% | 9.1% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 8.7% | 8.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −6.1 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 5.6% of households in Northgate, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 6.1 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Northgate
Renters in Northgate
| Period | Northgate | San Rafael | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 49.8% | 42.6% | 43.7% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 52.0% | 43.1% | 46.2% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 47.5% | 44.1% | 45.3% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 55.7% | 42.6% | 44.5% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.9 pts | +0.0 pts | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Northgate rent: 55.7% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Among homeowners, 58.6% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 5.9 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Northgate
| Period | Northgate | San Rafael | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.6% | 6.4% | 8.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 5.7% | 7.1% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.6% | 5.1% | 6.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.0% | 5.5% | 7.5% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | −0.8 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Northgate is close to the national rate: 10.0% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in San Rafael as a whole (5.5%). Vacancy is up 1.4 points from 2006–10, even as 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 Northgate
| Period | Northgate | San Rafael | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1975 | 1965 | 1964 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1966 | 1965 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1979 | 1966 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1980 | 1967 | 1968 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +2 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Northgate are the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1980. Homes here are newer than in San Rafael overall, where the median home dates to 1967. The median year built has moved up from 1975 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 Northgate
| Period | Northgate | San Rafael | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,588 | $1,488 | $1,452 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,686 | $1,535 | $1,551 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,291 | $2,227 | $2,139 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,977 | $2,567 | $2,666 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,388 | +$1,079 | +$1,214 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Northgate costs $2,977 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,388 a month from 2006–10, an 87% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 33.8% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the northwest; the most affordable are in the south.
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 Northgate
Bachelor's degrees in Northgate
| Period | Northgate | San Rafael | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.2% | 45.9% | 42.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 47.6% | 44.2% | 44.1% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 55.4% | 50.7% | 48.9% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 43.4% | 49.5% | 52.2% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | +3.6 pts | +9.7 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are more common in Northgate than nationally: 43.4% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Still, the share is lower than in San Rafael overall (49.5%). The share with a degree is down 1.8 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Northgate
| Period | Northgate | San Rafael | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.1% | 83.6% | 86.8% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.1% | 85.4% | 87.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.4% | 85.2% | 88.8% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 85.8% | 84.8% | 89.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | −5.3 pts | +1.2 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in seven adults in Northgate never finished high school, more than nationally: 85.8% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. That is in line with the rest of San Rafael. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has fallen 5.3 points, even as the national rate rose.
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 Northgate
| Period | Northgate | San Rafael | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 6.2% | 7.8% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.0% | 7.1% | 8.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.0% | 4.4% | 4.6% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.2% | 5.3% | 5.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −0.9 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been harder to find in Northgate than nationally: unemployment was 7.2%, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged down 0.7 points, a smaller shift than nationally. 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).
Northgate compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northgate | 2.45 | 41.7 | 5.6% | 55.7% | 10.0% | 1980 | $2,977 | 43.4% | 85.8% | 7.2% |
| Terra Linda | 2.51 | 52.6 | 6.7% | 28.3% | 5.7% | 1965 | $2,512 | 60.3% | 95.3% | 7.7% |
| Marinwood | 2.48 | 48.1 | 2.2% | 22.8% | 7.0% | 1961 | $3,494 | 58.3% | 96.4% | 3.1% |
| Lincoln | 2.18 | 47.1 | 14.1% | 61.7% | 1.9% | 1967 | $2,512 | 39.1% | 78.5% | 3.9% |
| Point Richmond | 2.13 | 48.7 | 3.9% | 38.6% | 2.6% | 1979 | $1,901 | 65.4% | 97.3% | 5.2% |
| Atchison Woods | 2.53 | 34.2 | 27.5% | 52.9% | 4.2% | 1956 | $1,431 | 15.3% | 65.0% | 6.4% |
| Iron Triangle | 3.39 | 34.3 | 22.4% | 58.8% | 6.0% | 1969 | $1,723 | 8.6% | 60.9% | 11.3% |
| Belding Woods | 3.66 | 28.1 | 21.1% | 62.2% | 4.0% | 1961 | $1,522 | 6.3% | 49.2% | 8.4% |
| Fairmede-Hilltop | 3.00 | 35.8 | 17.0% | 61.2% | 4.6% | 1966 | $2,431 | 19.5% | 81.5% | 12.6% |
| Coronado | 3.02 | 36.9 | 20.1% | 40.2% | 5.3% | 1965 | $2,544 | 29.5% | 72.8% | 9.7% |
| North and East | 2.93 | 39.6 | 11.0% | 51.0% | 6.4% | 1953 | $1,940 | 24.6% | 79.8% | 8.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Chinatown, Manhattan, NY · Downtown St Petersburg, St. Petersburg, FL · Downtown, Baltimore, MD · Colonial Gardens, Chicago, IL · Chinatown, Philadelphia, PA · Cherry Hill, Brooklyn, MD · Central Carrollton, Carrollton, TX · Central Berkeley, Berkeley, CA · Burnham Park, Milwaukee, WI · Bemiss, Spokane, WA
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 Northgate. 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.