HomeCaliforniaMarin County
Marin County, California: commercial real estate data.
Marin County, California had an estimated 256,400 residents on July 1, 2024, down 2.3 percent since the 2020 census base of 262,325, across 520 square miles. County output reached $36.85 bn in 2024, 10,049 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 301 7(a) approvals worth $154.9 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Marin County
How many people live in Marin County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024257,969
- Households103,018
- Average household size2.50
- Median household income$149,091
- Median age47.4
- Median gross rent$2,668 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$1,507,300
- Home value to household income10.1 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income21.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher61.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree27.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over189,753
- Population under 1849,986
- Share under 1819.4 percent
- Population 65 and over61,345
- Share 65 and over23.8 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64146,638
- Civilian labor force133,674
- Unemployment rate6.1 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over64.3 percent
- Rank by population among California counties26th of 58
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included279th of 3,222
Marin County is the 26th largest of 58 California counties by population. A median home costs 10.1 times median household income, which is severely unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 23.8 percent against 19.4 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Marin County
Is Marin County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024256,400
- Census 2020 base population262,325
- Population change since the 2020 census base-2.26 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024694
- Births, 20242,097
- Deaths, 20242,170
- Natural change, 2024-73
- Net domestic migration, 2024-1,505
- Net international migration, 20242,263
- Total net migration, 2024758
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-11,301
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2561st of 3,144
The county has lost 2.26 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Marin County
Where are people moving to Marin County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving6,278
- People arriving, from those returns9,990
- Tax returns filed by households leaving7,796
- Net household movement-1,518
- Adjusted gross income arriving$1.94 bn
- Net adjusted gross income movement$205.7 m
- Average income of an arriving household$309,655
- Average income of a leaving household$222,976
- Largest single originSan Francisco County (1,611 households)
- Largest single destinationSonoma County (1,182 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco County | 1,611 | 2,754 | $778.0 m |
| Sonoma County | 583 | 862 | $58.2 m |
| Alameda County | 462 | 710 | $94.8 m |
| Contra Costa County | 336 | 542 | $82.5 m |
| Los Angeles County | 296 | 453 | $101.2 m |
| San Mateo County | 275 | 470 | $91.7 m |
| Santa Clara County | 202 | 328 | $76.0 m |
| Solano County | 137 | 214 | $10.8 m |
Households arriving report $86,679 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is San Francisco County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Marin County
What is the Marin County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$36.85 bn
- County GDP, 2023$35.48 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20243.9 percent
- GDP change over five years18.8 percent
- Rank by GDP among the California areas BEA publishes20th of 58
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes165th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$142,861
Output grew 3.9 percent in the latest year and 18.8 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Marin County
Employment by industry in Marin County
- Covered employment, annual average110,934
- Establishments reporting12,900
- Average annual pay$93,552
- Average weekly wage$1,799
- Health care and social assistance, employment17,484
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$83,330
- Retail trade, employment13,209
- Retail trade, average annual pay$56,176
- Accommodation and food services, employment11,417
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$38,227
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment8,316
- Professional, scientific and technical services, average annual pay$148,183
- Construction, employment7,453
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment6,272
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 17,484 | 3,064 | $83,330 |
| Retail trade | 13,209 | 865 | $56,176 |
| Accommodation and food services | 11,417 | 652 | $38,227 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 8,316 | 2,013 | $148,183 |
| Construction | 7,453 | 1,073 | $93,101 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 6,272 | 563 | $73,926 |
| Other services, except public administration | 6,235 | 1,437 | $60,333 |
| Manufacturing | 4,081 | 226 | $181,770 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 17,484 jobs, 15.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Marin County
How many businesses are in Marin County?
- Establishments, all industries10,049
- Employment at those establishments106,249
- Annual payroll$9.22 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents39.0
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Marin County
Building permits in Marin County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024158
- Declared construction value permitted$77.5 m
- Single family units authorized151
- Multifamily units authorized7
- Multifamily share of units4.4 percent
- Average declared value per unit$490,275
- Units authorized per 1,000 households1.5
Single-family homes are 95.6 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Marin County
SBA loans in Marin County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded301
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$154.9 m
- Average 7(a) approval$514,596
- Median 7(a) approval$210,000
- 10th percentile approval$38,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,318,500
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)3,124
- Jobs per approval10.4
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active67
- Distinct industries receiving approvals130
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer9.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms27
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter269
- Franchise loans18
- Franchise share of approvals6.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (20)
- Most active lenderWells Fargo Bank National Association (25)
- 504 approvals recorded191
- 504 gross approval dollars$158.7 m
- Average 504 approval$830,827
- Median 504 approval$655,000
- Distinct CDCs active9
- 504 jobs per approval8.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved9.6
- Most active CDCMortgage Capital Development Corporation (99)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$313.6 m
The average approval of $514,596 sits well above the median of $210,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 9.0 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Marin County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Marin County
Do SBA loans in Marin County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded51
- Paid in full47
- Charged off4
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans7.8 percent
- Status: Exempt from disclosure191
- Status: Paid in full47
- Status: Charged off4
- Status: Cancelled40
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed19
Of the 51 loans that have reached a final outcome, 7.8 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Marin County
SBA lending by place in Marin County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending22
- San Rafael, approvals93
- Novato, approvals59
- Mill Valley, approvals36
- Corte Madera, approvals19
- San Anselmo, approvals18
- Sausalito, approvals16
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| San Rafael | 93 | $51,735,500 |
| Novato | 59 | $25,557,900 |
| Mill Valley | 36 | $12,984,800 |
| Corte Madera | 19 | $18,211,500 |
| San Anselmo | 18 | $7,519,900 |
| Sausalito | 16 | $9,359,800 |
| Fairfax | 12 | $5,722,900 |
| Belvedere Tiburon | 8 | $6,250,000 |
| 14 other borrower cities | 40 | $17,551,000 |
San Rafael accounts for 93 approvals against 59 in Novato. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Marin County
How large is Marin County?
- Land area520 sq mi
- Rank by land area among California counties55th of 58
- Width, east to west31.9 mi
- Height, north to south34.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary1
- Residents per square mile of land496
- Establishments per square mile19.32
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Marin County
Flood risk in Marin County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Marin County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 060173
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 6
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book12
- Of those, participating in the NFIP12
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 6
- Communities carrying a CRS class7
- Radon levels in Marin County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Marin County (community 060173), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 6, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Marin County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 6, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Marin County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Marin County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024257,969
- Households103,018
- Average household size2.50
- Median household income$149,091
- Median age47.4
Common questions
Marin County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Marin County, California?
The Census Bureau estimates 256,400 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 257,969, in 103,018 households, ranking 26th of 58 California counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Marin County's population growing?
The population has fallen 2.26 percent since the 2020 census base of 262,325, to 256,400 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 2,097 births against 2,170 deaths, with net migration of 758. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Marin County?
$149,091. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $1,507,300, which is 10.1 times income, and median gross rent is $2,668 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Marin County?
10,049 establishments, employing 106,249 people with an annual payroll of $9.22 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Marin County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 17,484 jobs, 15.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 110,934 jobs at an average annual pay of $93,552, or $1,799 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Marin County?
301 7(a) approvals totaling $154.9 m since FY2020, across 67 lenders, with a median approval of $210,000, plus 191 504 approvals worth $158.7 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Marin County get paid back?
Of the 51 loans that have reached a final outcome, 47 were paid in full and 4 charged off, a charge-off rate of 7.8 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Marin County?
158 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $77.5 m. Multifamily was 4.4 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Marin County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Marin County come from?
The largest single origin is San Francisco County, with 1,611 households. Arriving households report an average income of $309,655 against $222,976 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Marin County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Marin County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Marin County
Cities and places in Marin.
31 Census places lie wholly or partly in Marin County. All 31 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Rafael | city | 60,433 | 93 | Wholly in this county |
| Novato | city | 52,546 | 59 | Wholly in this county |
| Mill Valley | city | 14,012 | 36 | Wholly in this county |
| Larkspur | city | 12,854 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| San Anselmo | town | 12,679 | 18 | Wholly in this county |
| Tamalpais-Homestead Valley | CDP | 12,085 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Corte Madera | town | 10,077 | 19 | Wholly in this county |
| Tiburon | town | 9,012 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Fairfax | town | 7,516 | 12 | Wholly in this county |
| Sausalito | city | 7,141 | 16 | Wholly in this county |
| Kentfield | CDP | 6,900 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Lucas Valley-Marinwood | CDP | 6,473 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Strawberry | CDP | 5,830 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Santa Venetia | CDP | 3,725 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Marin City | CDP | 3,195 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Sleepy Hollow | CDP | 3,063 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ross | town | 2,606 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Belvedere | city | 2,345 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Black Point-Green Point | CDP | 1,655 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Woodacre | CDP | 1,627 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Lagunitas-Forest Knolls | CDP | 1,626 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Inverness | CDP | 1,346 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Bolinas | CDP | 1,334 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Alto | CDP | 1,024 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| San Geronimo | CDP | 583 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Point Reyes Station | CDP | 517 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Muir Beach | CDP | 311 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Dillon Beach | CDP | 293 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Stinson Beach | CDP | 255 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Tomales | CDP | 168 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| Nicasio | CDP | 91 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 16 of the county's 301 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Marin County, the largest being Belvedere Tiburon (8), Greenbrae (6), Guerneville (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby