Belvedere
Belvedere may be Marin’s smallest incorporated community, but it is also one of the county’s most exclusive. Set along the Tiburon Peninsula at the southeastern base of Ring Mountain, between Richardson Bay and the town of Tiburon, Belvedere means “beautiful view” in Italian and stays true to its name, with its spectacular views of the Bay Area, Angel Island, San Francisco, Sausalito, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Mount Tamalpais. Belvedere consists of two islands and the lagoon (Belvedere Lagoon) between them. The larger of the two islands is Belvedere Island, and the smaller one is Corinthian Island, shared with Tiburon. Narrow, winding roads ring the two islands, with hedges and trees lining the route before they momentarily open to majestic water views. At the 2020 census, the population was 2,126.
Corte Madera
Tucked away in Marin’s green countryside, Corte Madera stretches from San Francisco Bay on the east side of Highway 101 to Mount Tamalpais on the west. Incorporated in 1916, the town of Corte Madera occupies an area of four square miles of land, plus surrounding water tidelands. The town was originally named Adams to honor Jerry Adams, the first postmaster; however, the name was changed to Corte Madera in 1902, which is a command in Spanish that means “chop wood” a reference to both the Rancho Corte Madera del Presidio granted to John Reed in 1834 and the town’s long-held connections to the lumber industry. Despite its somewhat humble beginnings, Corte Madera has become one of the most affluent towns in Marin. Today, it retains a close-knit feel with nearly 10,222 at the 2020 census, residents, and a rich tapestry of local events that bring the community together during the year.
The town’s Fourth of July celebration with its twin city, Larkspur, for example, draws thousands of spectators and residents from all over the Bay Area with a parade through Old Town, festivities, and a picnic. Much of its historic charm remains throughout its neighborhoods. Christmas Tree Hill is one of the oldest sections of Corte Madera and was named because the lighted homes on the hill leading up to Mount Tamalpais create the shape of a lighted Christmas tree. Residents appreciate Corte Madera’s ample sunshine, which often peeks through the sheets of fog surrounding Mount Tamalpais. It is a true outdoor paradise with outstanding hiking, biking, and some of the most beautiful vistas in the western United States.
Fairfax
Fairfax is nestled among the forested hills about 16 miles north of San Francisco. It offers a balance of small-town atmosphere, charm, and unique historical identity. The population was 7,605 at the 2020 census. Originally part of a Spanish land grant in 1839, Fairfax was named after Charles Snowden Fairfax. After his death, the property changed hands, eventually becoming the site of the renowned Pastori’s Restaurant in the 1890s, which was rebuilt on a grander scale after a fire in 1911 and still stands. San Francisco magazine selected Fairfax among the top 10 of the Bay Area’s 107 towns. Fairfax has also been voted as the “Best Little Town in Marin.” These accolades are hardly a surprise to its residents. Offering over 20 restaurants and cafés, independent bookstores, clothing, and gifts, Fairfax presents something for everybody. There are countless miles of protected open space surrounding the town, making it the ultimate outdoorsman’s playground. A sense of community spirit permeates the town, as seen during the seasonal (June-September) Farmer’s Market held each Wednesday evening in Fairfax Park. Many renowned musicians call Fairfax home, and with frequent live music, Fairfax’s multiple venues offer a welcoming setting for locals to jam. Fairfax truly presents the best of both worlds—numerous city pleasures while retaining its small-town atmosphere. 
Greenbrae
Greenbrae is a small community in Marin County, resting at the opening of Ross Valley. Portions of the community are located in an unincorporated area of the county, and portions fall within the city limits of neighboring Larkspur. Predominantly composed of hillside and waterfront terrain, Greenbrae is highly sought-after for its custom homes and views of the San Francisco Bay, Corte Madera Creek, and Mount Tamalpais. The community took its name from “brae,” which means a steep bank or hillside in dialects of Scotland and Northern Ireland; “Greenbrae” means green hillside.
Greenbrae's neighborhoods are bordered by downtown Larkspur to the south, Larkspur Landing to the east, the unincorporated area of Kentfield to the west, and the city of San Rafael to the north. A special effort was made during the development of Greenbrae to preserve the hundreds of majestic oak trees that pepper its hillsides. Greenbrae is also home to Bon Air Shopping Center, which features over 50 unique shops and restaurants, as well as Marin Health Hospital, Marin’s acute care hospital. Residents enjoy a one-minute drive to the freeway and two minutes to the Larkspur Landing ferry terminal.
Kentfield
Kentfield is located on the Northwestern Pacific Railroad, about two miles southwest of downtown San Rafael. It's naturally beautiful setting—nestled at the base of Mount Tamalpais—has made it a preferred community for upper-middle-class and wealthy residents who crave a quieter life in a wooded, country atmosphere. Many of the residences in Kentfield offer low-profile roofs and are set on large lots, thoughtfully set back from streets that meander among majestic pine, redwood, and manzanita trees. The population was 6,808 at the 2020 census. The story of Kentfield’s origins began in 1857 when James Ross bought Rancho Punta de Quentin. Ross, a Scot who had arrived in San Francisco from Australia in 1848 and made his fortune in the wholesale liquor business, set up a trading post called “Ross Landing, “which attracted steamers from Corte Madera Creek. Albert Emmet Kent, a Chicago meat packer, and his wife, Adaline, bought the land from the Ross estate in 1871. They later donated 23 acres of land for a community recreation center, which became the site for the College of Marin as part of the California Community College system. Their son William, who became a U.S. congressman and an ardent conservationist, also donated Muir Woods as a national park. The Kent family built an estate called Tamalpais, which was changed to Kent in the 1890s and finally to Kentfield with the opening of the first post office in 1905.
Larkspur
The small-town feel of Larkspur stretches north to the unincorporated area of Greenbrae. Incorporated in 1908, Larkspur was named after the blue flowers that grew throughout the town. In actuality, the flowers weren’t larkspur—a plant native to England—but lupine. Regardless, the name stuck. The city of Larkspur has nearly doubled in population every 10 years from 1920 to 1970, from just 612 residents to 10,487. Today, Larkspur counts about 13,064 as residents per the 2020 census. Despite its growth over the decades, downtown Larkspur has remained largely unchanged. Larkspur’s Downtown Historic District, known also as Old Downtown Larkspur, has particularly retained its character, thanks to preservation-minded residents. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, with the restored art deco Lark Theater as its anchor. A medley of specialty shops, boutiques, Queen Anne Victorians, cafes, and first-class restaurants can be enjoyed by taking a relaxing stroll along Magnolia Avenue, which includes the Murphy mansion, constructed in 1888 and now home to Perry’s Restaurant, which is another important monument that still stands today.
Marin County Mart is located between the Larkspur Ferry Terminal (with ferries to the San Francisco Ferry Building and to the San Francisco Giants home games) and the new SMART Train Station. Marin County Mart is an unanchored, open-air, modern village that houses independent shops, and artisanal organic eateries and hosts a Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings and Food Trucks on Sunday lunchtime.
Mill Valley
Mill Valley lies just 10 minutes north of San Francisco, along the western and northern shores of Richardson Bay. Beyond the flat coastal area and marshlands, it occupies narrow wooded canyons, mostly of second-growth redwoods, on the eastern slopes of Mount Tamalpais. The combination of Mill Valley’s idyllic location and ease of access to nearby San Francisco has made it a popular haven for affluent commuters. Nestled below majestic Mount Tamalpais, Mill Valley is reminiscent of a charming European village. Surrounded by national parks, including Muir Woods an ancient coast redwood forest, Mill Valley’s lush landscape of hills and canyons is a favorite place for visitors who enjoy hiking, mountain biking, and running. The population was 14,231 at the 2020 census. The town has long been known as a cultural hub. The Mill Valley Film Festival is an internationally recognized festival that has attracted leading filmmakers and movie aficionados for the past forty-two years. The Mountain Play, produced in June in an outdoor amphitheater, attracts thousands of theater-goers to the top of Mount Tamalpais to watch Broadway musicals performed by talented local actors. Outdoor and running enthusiasts should be sure to check out the legendary annual Dipsea Race, the second-oldest footrace in the United States. The race takes runners over a 7.1-mile course up and over Mount Tamalpais to one of the most beautiful California beaches on the Pacific Coast. Bordered on three sides by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Muir Woods National Monument, Mount Tamalpais State Park, and the watershed, Mill Valley is teeming with outdoor recreation.
A host of famous residents—from rock stars, artists, and nationally known authors, to business executives and political radicals—have made their homes here in this beautiful and charming town, lured by the promise of spectacular hikes up to Mount Tam and lazy weekends driving up the coast. Annual events like the Tamalpa Runners and the Mill Valley Film Festival continue to add to its close-knit charm.
Novato
Novato is the second-largest city in Marin County, set about 29 miles north of San Francisco. The city encompasses 43 square miles and includes 3,500 acres of open space and parks, with a variety of home opportunities ranging from waterfront communities and horse farms to beautiful mansions. At the 2020 census, Novato had a population of 53,225.
Incorporated in 1960, Novato has a rich Native American heritage. It was originally the site of several Coast Miwok villages: Chokeche, near downtown Novato; Puyuku, near Ignacio, and Olompali, at the present Olompali State Historic Park. Novato was first established in 1839 when the Mexican government granted the 8,876-acre Rancho Novato to Fernando Feliz. The ranch was named after a local Miwok leader who had probably been given the name of Saint Novatus at his baptism. The only battle of the Bear Flag Rebellion, which led to California’s statehood, was fought at Olompali in 1846, and the Burdell family later established the first formal garden in Marin in the 1870s.
Today, the city is home to several small biotech firms, such as Buck Institute for Age Research, Biosearch Technologies, and BioMarin Pharmaceutical. The former Hamilton Air Force Base is also located in Novato but was decommissioned in 1974 and designated a Historic District in 1998. After lying stagnant for many years, the base has largely been redeveloped into single-family homes. The former hangar buildings were gutted and redeveloped into two-story office buildings.
Ross
Ross, bordered by Kentfield and Greenbrae to the east, has always attracted an affluent clientele. Forbes took notice, calling the town of 2,415 one of the “Millionaire Capitals of America.” Residents here are particularly enamored with its small-town beauty, shaded roads and lanes, privacy, and large luxury custom homes in park-like settings that often have tennis courts and swimming pools. The heart of the town, Ross Common, is a quaint district with restaurants, shops and a park. Proving the town’s history and staying power, one enterprise, Ross Grocery, has been operated by the same family since World War II. The population was 2,338 at the 2020 census.
Although the land that is now called Ross Valley was occupied for hundreds of years by the coast Miwok Indians, Ross was originally part of the Mexican land grant to Juan B.R. Cooper in 1840 known as Rancho Punta de Quentin Canada de San Anselmo. The town was named in honor of James Ross, who purchased the land in 1857 for $50,000. Once Ross was incorporated in 1908, one of the first actions of the new town council was to make it illegal to cut down trees without town approval. Thanks to the foresight of these early leaders, Ross today rests under a leafy canopy that is unique to Marin County.
San Anselmo
San Anselmo is bounded by Ross to the south, Fairfax to the west, and San Rafael to the east. Today, San Anselmo possesses a unique sense of charm and history, thanks to an older housing stock reflecting a range of architectural influences on shady, tree-lined streets. Its slow-paced lifestyle and Creekside location have also helped the town become a beloved place for families. The population was 12,830 at the 2020 census.
There are numerous fine dining opportunities and cafés also existing within its borders, while a sweet mix of awning-shaded boutiques, galleries, and hiking and biking trails offer points of interest for everyone. Favorite local landmarks include the Robson-Harrington House and Park, the American Legion Log Cabin, and the Carnegie Library. Family-friendly festivals—usually focused on art, wine, and antiques—also lure many people to the area each year.
The San Anselmo name came from the Punta de Quentin land grant, which marked this valley as the Canada del Anselmo. For a few years, the town was referred to on railroad maps as Junction, but in 1883, the name San Anselmo came back into use. Becoming unprofitable as a result of competition from the automobile and the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge, the railway was officially closed on March 1, 1941. San Anselmo was incorporated in 1907, and to this day remains one of Marin County’s most alluring towns.
San Rafael
San Rafael is a small city and the county seat for Marin County and was once the site of several Coast Miwok villages, including the shining historic landmark Mission San Rafael Arcángel which was founded in what is now downtown San Rafael and accepts visitors daily. After being abandoned in 1844 and falling into ruin, a new mission was erected in 1949. San Rafael is bordered by Santa Venecia, Ross, San Anselmo, Kentfield, and Larkspur, as well as the San Francisco Bay and San Rafael Bay. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the city's population was 61,271. It is located approximately eighteen miles from San Francisco and is known for its artistic community, iconic architecture, and beautiful parklands.
Home to notable landmarks, including the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Marin County Civic Center building, the Rafael Film Center, China Camp State Park, and the Victorian mansion and grounds of the Falkirk Cultural Center, the city is perhaps best known as the site of George Lucas’s Skywalker Ranch. Lucas made San Rafael an entertainment industry hotspot for film production and later special effects, with the founding of industry powerhouse Industrial Light & Magic. “Star Wars,” Indiana Jones,” American Graffiti,” “THX 1138,” and “Gattaca” were all filmed in the area.
San Rafael attracts buyers seeking a combination of natural beauty, community character, and convenient amenities, with 30 distinct neighborhoods and a vibrant downtown comprising the city. Some of Northern California’s finest architecture is on display here, with historic homes, mid-century modern marvels, and ranch-style ramblers. The city’s topography also lends itself to recreational pursuits, which the 149 parks, yacht clubs, tennis/swim clubs, and bicycle trails more than satisfy.
Sausalito
Known by travelers as a lovely and scenic day trip from San Francisco, Sausalito is also a preferred place to call home for those looking for a private coastal setting with old-world charm, Mediterranean flair, hillside homes with breathtaking views and great access to San Francisco.
Located at the northern end of the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito is bordered to the north by Marin City. Just a trip across the Golden Gate Bridge or ferry ride away, Sausalito feels like a world away, with the atmosphere of a small seaside town and a layer of protected land, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, acting as a buffer. Sausalito's population was 7,269 as of the 2020 census.
Sausalito developed rapidly as a shipbuilding center in World War II, with its industrial character giving way in postwar years to a reputation as a wealthy and artistic enclave, a picturesque residential community (incorporating large numbers of houseboats, and a tourist destination.
Sausalito has been ranked among America’s “Happiest Seaside Towns” by Coastal Living, noted for its scenic beauty, relaxed pace, and remarkable views just minutes from one of the most dynamic employment centers in the nation.
Tiburon
Formerly the southern terminus of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad, Tiburon grew as a result of its transportation capabilities, connecting with wealthy city dwellers looking to build tony summer homes. Today, only passenger ferry service remains, and full-time residents have great access to San Francisco as well as Angel Island. The population of Tiburon was 9,146 at the 2020 census.
The waterfront location and sunny slopes of Tiburon make it a prime destination for those seeking a home in the Bay Area. For a town of less than 10,000 residents, Tiburon offers a variety of activities. The Tiburon International Film Festival film brings in films from around the world, there is wine tasting at Windsor Vineyards, a tasting room, shopping in the elegant boutiques along Ark Row, a leafy block-long enclave of tiny shops that were once floating arks and great restaurants along Tiburon’s Main Street.
For the nautically inclined, Tiburon’s Corinthian Yacht Club is host to Friday Night races on the Bay. The sight of dozens of sails in formation as these boats vie for advantage is one of the hallmarks of Bay Area living. Ferries to San Francisco, as well as to Angel Island State Park with its trails and magnificent views of San Francisco, leave from the dock at Tiburon.
Blackie’s Pasture, named after an old swayback horse that once lived here, is a popular spot for hikers, joggers, Moms with strollers, and dog walkers. On weekends the parks fill up with soccer players of all ages!
The city was incorporated after several attempts in 1964 but was first inhabited by Coast Miwok Indians, whose rock carvings on Ring Mountain remain. It was Lt. Juan Manuel de Ayala who first named the city; it’s not known why he called it Punta del Tiburon, or Shark Point. But one thing is clear: The landscape is every bit as remarkable today as it was more than 2,500 years ago.
This small harbor city is celebrated for its breathtaking views, historical landmarks, outdoor lifestyle, world-class restaurants and shopping, and its architecture—ranging from beachy cottages to hillsides contemporaries to architecturally significant waterfront homes. Acclaimed schools are a draw of families, and the sailboats of the San Francisco and Corinthian Yacht Clubs and tennis and swimming facilities provide ample recreational opportunities. One of the most celebrated activities is “Friday Nights on Main Street,” an ongoing community party during which the city’s revitalized Main Street is closed to traffic during the summer and replaced with live music, wine tasting, and dining al fresco with spectacular views of San Francisco, Angel Island, and the Bay.
