City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

San Anselmo, CA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for San Anselmo - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

12,711
Residents
$170,457
Median income
$1,524,300
Median home
$3,604
Median rent (state)

San Anselmo - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, San Anselmo places in the 96th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

96th
percentile, household income
99th
percentile, home value
99th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: San Anselmo, CA

San Anselmo is a small town in California, home to 12,711 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. San Anselmo households earn a median of $170,457 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 1.3%. Home values in San Anselmo run a median of $1,524,300, and the median resident age is 45.7 years. About 70.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 66.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 17 residential building permits were authorized in San Anselmo (Building Boom), up 113% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

California carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, California scores 110.7 (Well Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $3,604 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in California run around $275, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 96.4 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

12,711 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$170,457 /yr

Poverty 1.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does San Anselmo compare to other US cities?

Where San Anselmo sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 96% higher than other cities
Home value 99% pricier than other cities
Median rent 99% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares San Anselmo against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to California only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

California-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher is San Anselmo's strongest outlier among California cities

Among the 1,458 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, San Anselmo ranks #95 - the 93rd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares San Anselmo only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#122 of 1,338
91st percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#50 of 1,458
91st percentile in California
Median Home Value
#105 of 1,343
92nd percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#1,154 of 1,450
20th percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#95 of 1,458
93rd percentile in California

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within California only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

96thIncome percentile

96th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How San Anselmo's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$1,524,300 1st percentile more affordable than 1% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. San Anselmo $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - San Anselmo, CA San Anselmo, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not San Anselmo, CA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution San Anselmo, CA median $170,457/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
San Anselmo, CA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for San Anselmo, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 70.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 1.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 66.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
12,711
Median Income
$170,457
Median Home Value
$1,524,300
Median Age
45.7
Poverty Rate
1.3%
Labor force participation
66.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
70.8%

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
12,500 residents12,600 residents12,700 residents12,800 residents12,900 residents 202020212022202320242025 12,809 residents 12,555 residents ▼ -2.0%
San Anselmo's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
17
housing units authorized
Single-Family
17
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 8
2020 15
2021 21
2022 21
2023 16
2024 17

Permit volume increased 113% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
55.9%
Carpool
2.9%
Public Transit
4.8%
Walk
4.6%
Work from Home
29.2%
Other
2.6%

Based on 6,363 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for California - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county San Anselmo sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$3,604/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
96.4 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Marysville
12,703 people
Grover Beach
12,687 people
Emeryville
12,756 people
Diamond Springs
12,642 people
Kingsburg
12,589 people
Solana Beach
12,841 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to San Anselmo's 12,711 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Oatfield, OR
12,709 people
Oakland, NJ
12,700 people
Meadville, PA
12,723 people
Kelso, WA
12,697 people
Stony Point, NY
12,694 people
Highland, FL
12,732 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to San Anselmo's $170,457 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Salisbury Mills, NY
$170,451 median income
Massapequa Park, NY
$170,470 median income
Kauneonga Lake, NY
$170,524 median income
Grand View Estates, CO
$170,375 median income
Commack, NY
$170,375 median income
Brainards, NJ
$170,302 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - San Anselmo, CA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition San Anselmo, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 79.7% 9.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 8.8% White 79.7% Black or African American 1.4% Asian 5.5% American Indian 1.1% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 2.6% Two or more races 9.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How San Anselmo compares to nearby California cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
San Anselmo (this city) 12,711 $170,457
Marysville 12,703 $58,150
Grover Beach 12,687 $82,534
Emeryville 12,756 $120,302
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about San Anselmo, CA?

What is the population of San Anselmo, CA? +

The population of San Anselmo, CA stands at 12,711 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in San Anselmo, CA? +

The median household income in San Anselmo is $170,457 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in San Anselmo? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for San Anselmo; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in San Anselmo, CA? +

A typical home in San Anselmo is worth $1,524,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.