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Buying a home in Marin County, California

The typical owner-occupied home in Marin County is worth about $1,507,300, 2.1 times the California median of $734,700 and 4.5 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $10,001 a year in property taxes, about 0.66% of their home's value, close to the California rate of 0.70%. The median household earns $149,091 a year, so the median home costs 10.1 times the median income (7.4 times for California). 65% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 67% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Marin County at a glance

Marin County California U.S.
Median home value $1,507,300 $734,700 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $10,001 $5,124 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.66% 0.70% 0.94%
Median household income $149,091 $99,122 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 65% 56% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 67% 67% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $4,001 $2,946 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 24.3% 24.8% 21.0%
Median rent $2,668 $2,036 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 33.3% 32.8% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1967 1976 1980
Vacant homes 8.1% 7.5% 10.1%
Population 257,969 39,287,377 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Marin County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Marin County home of $1,507,300 with 20% down costs about $9,569 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $12,322, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $410,092 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 77% of the median Marin County household income of $149,091; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $548,000.

The median rent here is $2,668 a month, so owning the median home costs about $6,901 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$301,460
Loan amount$1,205,840
Principal and interest$8,112
Property taxes (0.66% a year)$829
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$628
PMI$0
Total per month$9,569

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$52,756
Loan amount$1,479,999
Principal and interest$9,956
Property taxes (0.66% a year)$829
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$628
FHA mortgage insurance$909
Total per month$12,322

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Questions about home buying in Marin County

What is the median home value in Marin County?

About $1,507,300 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Marin County?

Homeowners pay a median $10,001 a year, which is about 0.66% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Marin County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $9,569 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $410,092 a year.

More about Marin County

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data