Mountain View, CA vs San Rafael, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Mountain View
63.3
#1779 nationally
San Rafael
58.5
#1954 nationally
Mountain View leads in crime level (8.4 vs 15.3). Mountain View leads in median household income ($174,156 vs $113,839). San Rafael leads in cost of living index (213 vs 285).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Mountain View, CA | San Rafael, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 63.3 (#1779) | 58.5 (#1954) |
| Population | 81,785 | 59,555 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,962,774 | $1,332,023 |
| Median Household Income | $174,156 | $113,839 |
| Average Commute | 24.2 min | 27.5 min |
| Walk Score | 66 | 53 |
| Crime Level | 8.4 | 15.3 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 285 | 213 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+40.0 | D+63.9 |
D
63.3 Score
Mountain View, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$1,962,774
Population
81,785
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
66
Pacific
View Mountain View, CA →
F
58.5 Score
San Rafael, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$1,332,023
Population
59,555
Crime
High
Walk Score
53
Pacific
View San Rafael, CA →
Try a different matchup
Swap Mountain View for: