City · California

Mill Valley, California

Mill Valley, city, in Marin County, California. Mill Valley had 13,799 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 14,231 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 14,012 (±26). GEOID 0647710.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

13,799

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 14,231 · ACS 2020-2024: 14,012 ±26

Median household income

$206,212

±$10,740 (90% margin)
California: $99,122

Median home value

$2,000,000 or more

The survey's top or bottom value; no margin is published
California: $734,700

Median gross rent

$3,278

±$682 (90% margin)
California: $2,036

Where is Mill Valley and what county is it in?

Mill Valley is a city in Marin County, California. It covers 4.8 square miles of land, 2,976 residents per square mile in 2020.

Mill Valley is in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 5 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Mill Valley (marked with a dot) in Marin County, California. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Mill Valley, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 13,799 people lived in Mill Valley on July 1, 2025, down 3.0% since 2020, a steeper fall than California's (−0.5%). The 2020 Census counted 14,231 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 14,012 (±26).

  • July 2020→2021 −56 (14,150)
  • 2021→2022 −176 (13,974)
  • 2022→2023 −132 (13,842)
  • 2023→2024 +33 (13,875)
  • 2024→2025 −76 (13,799)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure Mill ValleyMarin CountyCalifornia Change since 2015-2019
Total population 14,012 ±26 257,969 39,287,377 −318
Households 5,688 ±289 103,018 13,548,091 −419
Average household size 2.45 ±0.12 2.44 2.84 no clear change
Housing units 6,418 ±314 112,116 14,644,735 no clear change

Mill Valley's population since 2000

From 13,600 in 2000 to 13,799 in 2025: up 1.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Mill Valley as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

  • 2000 Census 13,600
  • 2005 (estimate) 13,411
  • 2010 Census 13,903
  • 2015 (estimate) 14,538
  • 2020 Census 14,231
  • 2025 (estimate) 13,799

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Mill Valley?

The median resident of Mill Valley is 48.7 years old; 18.6% are under 18 and 23.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 80.1%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 8.3%. 18.6% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure Mill ValleyMarin CountyCalifornia Change since 2015-2019
Median age 48.7 ±2.8 47.4 37.9 no clear change
Under 18 years 18.6% ±1.8 pts 19.4% 22.0% –
65 years and over 23.5% ±3.1 pts 23.8% 15.7% –
Male 48.1% ±2.4 pts 49.2% 49.9% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.8% ±1.5 pts 19.5% 40.2% no clear change
White alone, not Hispanic 80.1% ±3.0 pts 65.1% 33.8% −6.1 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 0.7% ±0.8 pts 2.1% 5.2% –
Asian alone, not Hispanic 8.3% ±2.1 pts 6.1% 15.3% +3.3 pts
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±0.3 pts 0.1% 0.3% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±0.3 pts 0.2% 0.3% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 4.9% ±1.8 pts 5.9% 4.4% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 1.2% ±1.0 pts 1.2% 0.6% –
Born outside the United States 18.6% ±3.5 pts 19.6% 27.0% +5.6 pts
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 15.9% ±4.3 pts 23.9% 44.4% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 2.8% ±1.0 pts 3.8% 4.3% –
With a disability 8.1% ±2.1 pts 10.0% 11.6% –
No health insurance coverage 3.7% ±1.4 pts 3.8% 6.6% –
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 98.7% ±0.9 pts 92.8% 84.7% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 75.8% ±3.8 pts 61.1% 37.1% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 35.9% ±3.9 pts 27.6% 14.4% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 87.9% ±2.8 pts 89.7% 89.2% –
Moved from another state in the past year 1.6% ±1.1 pts 1.2% 1.1% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Mill Valley earn?

Half of Mill Valley's 5,688 households earn less than $206,212 a year (±$10,740), against $149,091 in Marin County and $99,122 in California. In 2015-2019 it was $201,359 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 5.9% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure Mill ValleyMarin CountyCalifornia Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $206,212 ±$10,740 $149,091 $99,122 no clear change
Mean household income $294,061 ±$27,035 $232,566 $140,436 –
Per capita income $118,725 ±$10,849 $93,920 $49,513 −$28,590
People below the poverty line 5.9% ±2.1 pts 8.3% 12.0% no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line 4.3% ±3.4 pts 9.8% 15.0% –
Households receiving SNAP 2.6% ±1.2 pts 5.5% 12.4% –
Households with a computer 99.6% ±0.4 pts 97.7% 96.9% –
Households with a broadband subscription 96.6% ±1.9 pts 95.8% 93.5% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Mill Valley?

Owners occupy 66.2% of Mill Valley's occupied homes and renters 33.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $2,000,000 or more by its owner (). The median renter pays $3,278 a month including utilities, and 27.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure Mill ValleyMarin CountyCalifornia Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $2,000,000 or more $1,507,300 $734,700 no clear change
Median gross rent $3,278 ±$682 $2,668 $2,036 no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 27.2% ±9.8 pts 47.2% 46.0% no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $4,000 or more $4,000 or more $2,946 –
Owner-occupied homes 66.2% ±4.5 pts 64.7% 55.9% no clear change
Renter-occupied homes 33.8% ±4.5 pts 35.3% 44.1% –
Housing units 6,418 ±314 112,116 14,644,735 no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate 0.4% ±0.5 pts 0.8% 0.8% –
Rental vacancy rate 3.3% ±5.6 pts 3.8% 4.2% –
Single-family detached homes 69.7% ±4.6 pts 63.2% 57.0% –
Mobile homes 0.0% ±0.7 pts 1.3% 3.5% –
Built 2020 or later 0.5% ±0.5 pts 0.3% 1.3% –
Built 2010 to 2019 6.0% ±2.8 pts 2.6% 6.5% –
Built 1939 or earlier 28.2% ±4.7 pts 12.6% 8.9% –
Households with no vehicle 3.5% ±1.3 pts 4.9% 7.1% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Mill Valley building?

Builders took permits for 10 new housing units in Mill Valley in 2025 (10 in single-family houses), 0.7 per 1,000 residents against 2.6 across California.

  • 2019 35 units
  • 2020 40 units
  • 2021 47 units
  • 2022 37 units
  • 2023 40 units
  • 2024 (11 months) 15 units
  • 2025 10 units

Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Mill Valley work and get to work?

48.7% of Mill Valley's workers drive alone and 40.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 8.8%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure Mill ValleyMarin CountyCalifornia Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 60.7% ±3.3 pts 62.3% 63.8% –
Unemployment rate 8.8% ±2.7 pts 6.1% 6.6% +6.5 pts
Drove alone to work 48.7% ±6.4 pts 51.8% 65.7% –
Carpooled 3.6% ±2.0 pts 7.1% 9.5% –
Public transportation 1.6% ±0.9 pts 3.6% 2.9% –
Walked 5.0% ±1.9 pts 3.5% 2.4% –
Worked from home 40.0% ±5.7 pts 31.5% 17.2% +24.4 pts
Mean travel time to work 24.8 min ±2.5 27.4 min 28.7 min −9.0 min

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What census tracts are in Mill Valley?

3 census tracts lie mostly in Mill Valley, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $147,089 (Tract 1262) to $227,566 (Tract 1261).

Census tracts in Mill Valley, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Mill Valley
Tract 1261Marin County6,171 $227,566 $2,000,000 or more95%
Tract 1270Marin County4,573 $200,978 $2,000,000 or more100%
Tract 1262Marin County4,292 $147,089 $1,461,50058%
Tract 1282Marin County5,174 $250,000 or more $1,903,8005%
Tract 1191Marin County4,839 $244,702 $2,000,000 or more2%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Mill Valley) · Census block assignment files

How does Mill Valley compare with other places in California?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Mill Valley is the 2,557th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 335th-most populous of 483 in California.

Mill Valley ranks 66th of 1,037 places in California with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Mill Valley's rank in California (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate335th483
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)312th469
Residents per square mile460th1,077
Median household income66th1,037
Per capita income47th1,073
Median home value1st1,054
Median gross rent63rd987
Poverty rate708th836
Bachelor's degree or higher52nd988
Median age196th1,075
Owner-occupied share531st1,064
Work from home32nd822
Travel time to work730th1,069

Mill Valley's figures with every place in California (CSV)

Every place in California, sortable · Compare Mill Valley with other places

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for Mill Valley?

10 of the 57 figures for Mill Valley on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.

The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Mill Valley are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Mill Valley.