Marin County, Town by Town
Schools, commute, restaurants and home prices for every Marin town, from a fourth-generation Marin local.
Last updated September 2026 · By Melissa DiVita, REALTOR®, Compass · DRE #01387955 · Marin native, in real estate since 2003
All 11 cities and towns in Marin County
Marin County has 11 incorporated cities and towns, plus about 20 unincorporated communities that the County governs directly. San Rafael is the county seat and the largest city, and the whole county had about 262,000 people in the 2020 census.
| City or town | Area | My guide |
|---|---|---|
| Belvedere | Southern Marin | Belvedere guide |
| Corte Madera | Central Marin | Corte Madera guide |
| Fairfax | Ross Valley | Fairfax guide |
| Larkspur | Central Marin | Larkspur guide |
| Mill Valley | Southern Marin | Mill Valley guide |
| Novato | North Marin | Novato guide |
| Ross | Ross Valley | Ross guide |
| San Anselmo | Ross Valley | San Anselmo guide |
| San Rafael (county seat) | Central Marin | San Rafael guide |
| Sausalito | Southern Marin | Sausalito guide |
| Tiburon | Southern Marin | Tiburon guide |
Unincorporated communities include Kentfield and Greenbrae, Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, Strawberry, Marin City, Lucas Valley-Marinwood, Santa Venetia, and the West Marin towns like Stinson Beach, Bolinas, Point Reyes Station, Inverness and Nicasio. Buyers often don’t realize the difference matters: in unincorporated areas the County handles permits and planning, and there’s no city resale inspection when you sell. See my Kentfield & Greenbrae and West Marin guides.
How to choose a Marin town
When buyers come to me from San Francisco, they usually start with a list of towns they’ve heard of: Mill Valley, Tiburon, Sausalito. Those are wonderful places, but Marin has more than twenty distinct communities, and the right one depends on a few practical questions.
- How will you get to the city? Tiburon, Sausalito and Larkspur have ferries. Southern Marin is closest to the bridge. North Marin trades a longer drive for more space.
- Which high school do you want? Your address decides your public schools, and in Marin it’s set town by town. Belvedere, Tiburon, Corte Madera, Larkspur, Kentfield, Greenbrae and Ross all feed Redwood High. Mill Valley and Sausalito feed Tam High. San Anselmo and Fairfax feed Archie Williams.
- Fog or sun? Mill Valley’s canyons and parts of Sausalito can stay cool and gray on summer mornings. Ross Valley and Novato are usually warmer.
- Village or space? Do you want to walk to coffee, or have a flat yard and a long driveway?
Marin towns at a glance
| Town | Median sale price* | Public high school | Getting to SF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belvedere | $6.0M (3-mo, Jun 2026) | Redwood | Tiburon ferry |
| Tiburon | $3.46M (3-mo, Jul 2026) | Redwood | Ferry, about 20–25 min |
| Ross | $3.4M (3-mo, Jul 2026) | Redwood | Drive to Larkspur ferry |
| Kentfield | $3.2M (3-mo, Jul 2026) | Redwood | Larkspur ferry, about 5 min drive |
| Corte Madera | $2.0M (3-mo, Aug 2026) | Redwood | Larkspur ferry nearby; 101 |
| Mill Valley | $1.9M city (Aug 2026) | Tam | Bus 114/120; Sausalito or Tiburon ferry |
| Larkspur | $1.9M (3-mo, Sep 2026) | Redwood | Larkspur ferry and SMART |
| San Anselmo | $1.59M (Jul 2026) | Archie Williams | Bus 132; Larkspur ferry |
| Sausalito | $1.54M (Aug 2026) | Tam | Ferry, about 25–35 min |
| San Rafael | $1.3M (Aug 2026) | San Rafael / Terra Linda | SMART; bus 101 |
| Novato | $1.1M (Aug 2026) | Novato / San Marin | SMART; bus 101/154 |
| Stinson Beach | $3.8M (3-mo, Jun 2026, small sample) | Tam | Hwy 1, about 20 mi |
| Point Reyes Station | $1.6M (3-mo, Aug 2026, small sample) | Tomales | About 42 mi by road |
*Redfin median sale prices for the period shown. Small towns can swing a lot month to month on just a few sales, so treat these as a starting point. For current numbers on a specific neighborhood, ask me.
Southern Marin
Tiburon and Belvedere are my home turf: waterfront, the quickest ferry to the city and the Reed schools. Mill Valley is redwoods, Mt. Tam and a walkable downtown. Sausalito is hillside homes and houseboats right at the bridge. Strawberry and Tam Valley sit in between, with quick access to 101.
Central Marin
Corte Madera and Larkspur offer flatter streets, strong elementary schools and the Larkspur ferry. Kentfield, Greenbrae and Ross are quieter, established neighborhoods at the foot of Mt. Tam. San Anselmo and Fairfax have lively small downtowns and easy trail access.
North and West Marin
San Rafael is the county seat with the widest range of homes, including the mid-century Eichlers of Lucas Valley and Terra Linda. Novato offers more space and more sun. Out west, Stinson Beach, Bolinas, Point Reyes Station and Inverness are for people who want the coast.
Every town has its own full guide: Tiburon, Belvedere, Mill Valley (including Strawberry and Tam Valley), Sausalito, Corte Madera, Larkspur, Kentfield & Greenbrae, Ross, San Anselmo, Fairfax, San Rafael, Novato and West Marin. For life beyond the house, see Living in Marin.
Frequently asked questions
How many cities are in Marin County?
Marin County has 11 incorporated cities and towns: Belvedere, Corte Madera, Fairfax, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Novato, Ross, San Anselmo, San Rafael, Sausalito and Tiburon. It also has about 20 unincorporated communities, such as Kentfield, Tam Valley, Marinwood and the West Marin towns.
What is the largest city in Marin County?
San Rafael is the largest city in Marin County, with about 61,000 people in the 2020 census. It is also the county seat.
Is Kentfield a city?
No. Kentfield is an unincorporated community, so the County of Marin handles its permits and planning. Its schools are the Kentfield School District and Redwood High School.
Sources
Not sure which town fits?
Send me a note through my contact form. Tell me how you live, and I’ll suggest two or three towns worth a Saturday drive.