States › California › Tamalpais-Homestead Valley

Is Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CA expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 16 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$3,500+100% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$262,320about $21,860/month · 201% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$1,863,900460% higher than U.S. average

Rent here is among the highest 10% in the country. Household incomes are higher than in 100% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 7.1 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals. Most homes (85.4%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find. It is a highly educated city: 79.8% of adults have a college degree.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $140,040 a year. That is $67 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other California cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of California. It is number 610 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Tamalpais-Homestead Valley
$3,500+
$1,852
$1,642
$3,500+

How much do households earn in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley?

Under $25k
5.8%
$25k–50k
5.4%
$50k–100k
15.1%
$100k–150k
10.5%
$150k+
61.9%

Share of households by yearly income. 72.4% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley

SizeTamalpais-Homestead ValleyU.S. average
Studio$1,779$1,338
1 bedroom$3,646$1,324
2 bedrooms$3,500+$1,509
3 bedrooms$3,500+$1,698
4 bedrooms$3,500+$2,098

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Tamalpais-Homestead Valley overall?

Everyday prices in California overall are 11% above the U.S. average (index 110.7, U.S. = 100).

Housing
154
Goods (food, clothes…)
106
Utilities
159
Other services
103
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, so the California figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley

🏛️ Property tax$10,000+a year · 0.54% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$218a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley

Commute to work29.3 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree79.8%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home85.4%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line3.3%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment5.9%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $9,432 a month less.

Renting
$3,500+
Owning
$12,933

Owning assumes a typical $1,863,900 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $186,390 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CA?

Renting in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley costs a median of about $3,500+ a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.

How much do I need to make to live in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $140,040 a year, or $67 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Tamalpais-Homestead Valley cheap or expensive?

Tamalpais-Homestead Valley is rated Cheap: rent takes 16.0% of the typical household income of $262,320. It ranks 610th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley?

The median homeowner in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley pays $10,000+ a year in property taxes, about 0.54% of the median home value.

Is Tamalpais-Homestead Valley more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in California are 11% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley?

The median home value in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley is $1,863,900, about 7.1 times the typical yearly household income.

12,085 people live in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley. Numbers are typical (middle) values.