What are the schools like in Mill Valley, CA?

Mill Valley is served primarily by Mill Valley Elementary. The district operates 5 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 18.9:1.

What is the median household income in Mill Valley?

The median household income in Mill Valley, CA is $202,986 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.4%.

What is the weather like in Mill Valley, CA?

Mill Valley has an average high temperature of 56.6°F in January and 82.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 36.2 inches.

Mill Valley, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Mill Valley, CA affordable or expensive?

Mill Valley's cost of living index is 118, where 100 represents the national average. This means Mill Valley is 18% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $2,000,001 and the median rent is $2,988 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Mill Valley, CA?

Mill Valley has a violent crime rate of 95.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1003.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Mill Valley, CA a Good Place to Live?

Mill Valley is a small city of 14,199 in California, with a median household income of $202,986 and a 7.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 118 (US average = 100), which is 18% above the national average.

Strengths: Mill Valley stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Mill Valley is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Mill Valley city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 118.2

Mill Valley's overall cost of living index is 118.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Mill Valley costs roughly 18% more than the average American city.

Metric	Mill Valley, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$2,000,001	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$2,988	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	66.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$202,986	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Mill Valley's violent crime rate is 95.2 per 100,000 residents — 75% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

95.2 /100k

Property Crime

1003.1 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Mill Valley is served primarily by Mill Valley Elementary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.9:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Mill Valley, CA	National Avg
School District	Mill Valley Elementary	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	18.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	75.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	99.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Mill Valley sees average highs of 56.6°F in January and 82.5°F in July, with 36.2 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Mill Valley, CA
Average High — January	56.6°F
Average High — July	82.5°F
Annual Precipitation	36.2"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Mill Valley, CA	National Avg
Population	14,199	—
Median Age	47.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	31.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	83.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.9%	18.9%
Asian	7.8%	6.3%
Under 18	21.3%	22.2%
65 and over	21.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Alto, CA 1 mi Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CA 2 mi Kentfield, CA 2 mi Strawberry CDP (Marin County), CA 2 mi Larkspur, CA 2 mi

ZIP Codes in Mill Valley

Mill Valley, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

94941

Mill Valley vs Other Cities

Mill Valley, CA vs Alto, CA Mill Valley, CA vs Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CA Mill Valley, CA vs Kentfield, CA Mill Valley, CA vs Strawberry CDP (Marin County), CA Mill Valley, CA vs Larkspur, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mill Valley, CA affordable or expensive?

Mill Valley's cost of living index is 118, where 100 is the national average. That puts Mill Valley roughly 18% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $2,000,001 and median rent is $2,988/month.

What is the crime rate in Mill Valley, CA?

Mill Valley's violent crime rate is 95.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1003.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Mill Valley?

Public schools in Mill Valley are operated by Mill Valley Elementary. The district has 5 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.9:1. 75.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Mill Valley, CA a good place to live?

Mill Valley, CA has a population of 14,199, a median household income of $202,986, and an unemployment rate of 7.4%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Mill Valley?

Mill Valley averages 56.6°F in January and 82.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.2 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Mill Valley?

Mill Valley, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 94941.

What is the population of Mill Valley?

The population of Mill Valley, California is 14,199 with a median age of 47.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Mill Valley?

Key numbers for living in Mill Valley: cost of living index 118 (100 = US average), median home $2,000,001, median household income $202,986, crime index 34 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Mill Valley side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.