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San Rafael, CA

Full City Profile · California · San Mateo County County

2.9 /5.0
C+ Fair
60,604 Population 3,653/sq mi density
$109,317 Median Income $67,609 per capita
$1,246,200 Home Value $1,277,731 Zillow
$2,346 Median Rent 35.2% income on rent
60°F Avg Temperature 317 sunny days/yr
391 Violent Crime/100K 2,866 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.9 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.7 / 5.0
$109,317 median income, 3.8% unemployment
F
Affordability
1.0 / 5.0
$1,246,200 home value, $2,346/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
391 violent crimes/100K (3% above avg)
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
49.4% bachelor's degree or higher
San Rafael enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 60°F (16°C). Winters average 50°F in January while summers reach 68°F in July. The area gets 317 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 34.5 inches. The area receives 0.0 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 48.

Temperature

50°F Jan (10°C) 68°F Jul (20°C)
Annual Average59.5°F
10% above US avg
January Average50°F (10°C)
July Average68°F (20°C)
Sunny Days317 days/yr

Geography

Elevation190 ft (58 m)
Area22.4 sq mi (58.1 km²)
Population Density3,653/sq mi
Coordinates37.9810°N, 122.5069°W
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
CountySan Mateo County County
Nearest AirportMetro Oakland International (OAK)
24 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 34.5"
9% below US avg
Snowfall 0.0"
Wettest Month (Jan) 9.02"
Driest Month (Jul) 0.08"

Air Quality

AQI Median48.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0332 ppm
NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide)12.1 ppb
CO (Carbon Monoxide)0.34 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)4.5 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively High
Risk Score99.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability20.5 / 100
Community Resilience97.6 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Low
Earthquake Relatively High
Wildfire Relatively Moderate
Flood Relatively High
Hail Very Low
Strong Wind Relatively Low
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Very Low
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Drought Relatively High
Cold Wave No Rating
Landslide Relatively High
Coastal Flood Relatively High
Tsunami Relatively Moderate
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

4,574 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M6.0. Most recent: M2.7 on Aug 27, 2025.

Aug 24, 2014 The 2014 South Napa, California Earthquake M6.0 31 km
Apr 18, 1990 5 km NNW of Aromas, California M5.4 139 km
Apr 18, 1990 4 km E of Interlaken, California M5.1 135 km
Jan 16, 1993 9 km E of Gilroy, California M4.9 141 km
Apr 18, 1990 4 km NNW of Aromas, California M4.9 139 km
Apr 19, 1996 2 km E of Aromas, California M4.9 145 km
Sep 3, 2000 5 km WSW of Yountville, California M4.9 45 km
May 14, 2002 5 km SSW of Gilroy, California M4.9 138 km
Sep 4, 1995 13 km SW of Middletown, California M4.8 81 km
May 12, 2006 7 km W of Cobb, California M4.7 97 km
Apr 18, 1990 4 km N of Aromas, California M4.7 140 km
May 21, 1996 8 km ESE of East Foothills, California M4.7 98 km
Aug 11, 1993 14 km ESE of Alum Rock, California M4.7 104 km
Jan 2, 2025 4 km NW of Cobb, CA M4.7 99 km
Mar 24, 1991 1 km NNE of Interlaken, California M4.6 132 km
Aug 18, 1999 0 km S of Bolinas, California M4.6 18 km
Jan 11, 2000 6 km N of Geyserville, California M4.6 95 km
Feb 18, 2004 4 km WNW of Cobb, California M4.6 98 km
Sep 19, 2023 15 km SW of Westley, CA M4.5 122 km
Jan 12, 2014 8 km W of Cobb, California M4.5 96 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

41 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF2. Total: 4 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
May 5, 1998 EF2 80 km 0
Jun 1, 1958 EF2 53 km 0
Jan 11, 1951 EF2 76 km 0
Mar 18, 2011 EF1 55 km 0
Jan 23, 2010 EF1 65 km 0
Mar 20, 2005 EF1 38 km 0
Jan 27, 2005 EF1 89 km 0
Dec 5, 1998 EF1 55 km 0
May 5, 1998 EF1 75 km 0
Dec 23, 1996 EF1 48 km 0
Feb 22, 1996 EF1 66 km 0
Dec 2, 1992 EF1 55 km 0
Dec 2, 1992 EF1 58 km 0
Dec 2, 1992 EF1 69 km 0
Feb 27, 1983 EF1 55 km 0
Jan 14, 1980 EF1 78 km 0
Nov 10, 1964 EF1 66 km 0
Feb 17, 1959 EF1 88 km 0
Apr 1, 1958 EF1 42 km 0
Sep 28, 2019 EF0 94 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Tsunami History

5 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 4.5 m (15 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1868 N. CALIFORNIA Eruption + Earthquake 4.5 m 30 48 km
1989 N. CALIFORNIA Earthquake 1.0 m 62 119 km
1856 N. CALIFORNIA Eruption + Earthquake 0.6 m 57 km
1906 N. CALIFORNIA Eruption + Earthquake 0.1 m 31 km
1865 N. CALIFORNIA Eruption + Earthquake 102 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Nearby Volcanoes

1 volcano within 200 km. Closest: Clear Lake (112 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Clear Lake Volcanic field 1,439 m (4,721 ft) Unknown 112 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP). Sorted by distance.

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: HENNESSEY (314,241 ac, 2020).

Year Name Acres Distance
2020 HENNESSEY 314,241 74 km
2018 COUNTY 92,450 84 km
2020 CZU AUG LIGHTNING 85,894 96 km
2019 KINCADE 77,780 80 km
2015 VALLEY 77,507 90 km
2020 GLASS 68,020 64 km
2017 NUNS 56,883 41 km
2020 WALLBRIDGE 55,194 83 km
2017 ATLAS 51,664 49 km
2004 RUMSEY 39,335 89 km
1999 SIXTEEN 37,162 93 km
2017 TUBBS 36,981 67 km
1988 MILLER 35,750 62 km
2017 POCKET 18,691 94 km
2024 CORRAL 16,138 100 km
2004 GEYSERS 12,075 86 km
2009 CORRAL 12,006 99 km
1995 VISION 11,931 32 km
2015 WRAGG 8,455 68 km
2014 MONTICELLO 6,984 73 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 50°F (10°C) 9.0 in Wettest
February 51°F (11°C) 7.5 in
March 53°F (11°C) 6.3 in
April 55°F (13°C) 2.6 in
May 58°F (15°C) 0.8 in
June 62°F (16°C) 0.2 in
July 68°F (20°C) 0.1 in Warmest, Driest
August 65°F (18°C) 0.2 in
September 65°F (18°C) 0.4 in
October 62°F (16°C) 2.2 in
November 54°F (12°C) 6.3 in
December 49°F (10°C) 7.6 in Coldest

San Rafael has a seasonal temperature swing of 19°F / from 49°F in December to 68°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 43.3 inches, with January being the wettest month (9.0") and July the driest (0.1").

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