Moving to Marin County from San Francisco
What I tell buyers crossing the Golden Gate for the first time: towns, schools, commuting, costs, and how to time the move.
Last updated September 2026 · By Melissa DiVita, Compass, DRE #01387955
The short answer: start with the commute. Ferries from Tiburon (about 30 minutes), Sausalito (about 30) and Larkspur (about 35) reach the San Francisco Ferry Building. Marin’s public schools are assigned by address, with no lottery. The county median sale price was about $1.51 million in August 2026, from around $1.1 million in Novato to about $6 million in Belvedere.
I started my real estate career in San Francisco in 2003, and I’ve lived in Marin most of my life, so I understand both sides of the bridge. A lot of the people I talk with are city families looking for more space, strong public schools and a slower pace, without giving up an easy trip back into town. This guide covers the questions I hear most.
1. Start with the commute, not the town
How you’ll get to the city shapes everything else. Marin has three Golden Gate Ferry routes to the San Francisco Ferry Building:
| Ferry | Approx. crossing | Clipper fare (from Jul 2026) | Towns it serves best |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiburon | About 30 min | $8.50 | Tiburon, Belvedere, Strawberry |
| Sausalito | About 30 min | $8.50 | Sausalito, southern Mill Valley |
| Larkspur | About 35 min | $9.50 | Larkspur, Corte Madera, Greenbrae, Kentfield, Ross, San Anselmo |
The Larkspur terminal has about 1,800 parking spaces and connects to the SMART train, so it works well for central Marin. If you’ll drive, the southbound Golden Gate Bridge toll is $10.25 with FasTrak as of July 2026, and the morning rush southbound runs roughly 6:30 to 9:30.
2. Understand how Marin schools work
Keeping your kids in private school? See my guide to Marin private schools, with 2026-27 tuition, rankings and the admissions calendar.
Marin’s public schools are organized very differently from San Francisco’s. There’s no lottery: your address determines your schools. The county has 13 separate elementary (K–8) districts that feed a handful of high schools. Here’s the short version:
| High school | Niche rank in Marin (2026) | Main towns it serves |
|---|---|---|
| Redwood High | #1 | Belvedere, Tiburon, Corte Madera, Larkspur, Greenbrae, Kentfield, Ross |
| Tamalpais High | #2 | Mill Valley, Sausalito, Strawberry, Tam Valley, Muir Beach, Stinson, Bolinas |
| Archie Williams High | #3 | San Anselmo, Fairfax, San Geronimo Valley |
| San Marin / Novato High | #5 / #6 | Novato |
| Terra Linda High | #7 | North San Rafael, Lucas Valley, Marinwood |
Always confirm the assigned schools for a specific address with the district before you write an offer.
3. What a home costs, town by town
Across Marin County, the median sale price was about $1.51 million in August 2026, up 8.6% from a year earlier, according to Redfin. But the range between towns is enormous: from around $1.1 million in Novato to roughly $3.5 million in Tiburon and about $6 million in Belvedere. My Marin towns guide has a full table.
City buyers are often surprised by two costs: homeowners insurance, especially in wildfire-prone areas near open space, and flood insurance near the Bay. Get quotes early. I can connect you with local brokers who know Marin.
Financing a Marin home
Most Marin purchases require a jumbo loan. If you’re self-employed, have RSUs or are selling a city home at the same time, the loan structure matters as much as the rate. Get pre-approved by someone who works with Marin buyers every day.
Financing in Marin. Many Marin homes need jumbo financing: the 2026 conforming limit here is $1,249,125, so with 20% down, homes above about $1.56 million usually mean a jumbo loan. My husband Michael DiVita is a mortgage broker and owner of DiVita Home Finance, with access to 40+ wholesale lenders, and he’s a great resource for jumbo and bank-statement loans. Learn more at mycahomeloan.com.
Disclosure: Michael DiVita is my husband. You are free to choose any lender; using DiVita Home Finance is never required, and I receive no referral fee.
4. The weather really is different
Marin has microclimates. Southern Marin near the water can be cool and breezy, and some Mill Valley canyons stay in the shade much of the day. Central Marin, Ross Valley and Novato are usually noticeably warmer and sunnier. Visit your short list on a summer morning and again in the late afternoon.
5. Timing the sale of your city home
Most of my San Francisco buyers need to sell in the city and buy in Marin at roughly the same time. There are a few ways to handle it: a rent-back after you sell, a contingent offer when the market allows it, or bridge financing. The right one depends on your finances and the market that month. I’ll work with your city agent and your lender so the dates line up.
6. What Marin life looks like
- Outdoors: Mt. Tamalpais, Muir Woods, the Marin Headlands, Point Reyes National Seashore, Angel Island and miles of bay-front paths.
- On the water: Yacht clubs in Tiburon, Belvedere and Sausalito; kayaking and paddleboarding on Richardson Bay.
- Food: From Sam’s Anchor Cafe on the Tiburon waterfront to Michelin-recognized spots in Mill Valley, San Anselmo and Fairfax.
- Small-town downtowns: Tiburon’s Main Street, Mill Valley’s square, Larkspur’s Magnolia Avenue, San Anselmo and Fairfax.
Quick answers
How long is the ferry from Marin to San Francisco? About 30 minutes from Tiburon and Sausalito and about 35 from Larkspur, all to the Ferry Building. Clipper fares are $8.50 from Tiburon and Sausalito and $9.50 from Larkspur (from July 2026).
How do Marin public schools work? There’s no lottery. Your address determines your schools. The county has 13 separate elementary (K-8) districts that feed a handful of high schools, led by Redwood, Tam and Archie Williams.
How much does a home in Marin cost? The county median sale price was about $1.51 million in August 2026 (Redfin), ranging from around $1.1 million in Novato to about $3.5 million in Tiburon and about $6 million in Belvedere.
How do I sell my San Francisco home and buy in Marin at the same time? The usual options are a rent-back after you sell, a contingent offer when the market allows it, or bridge financing. The right one depends on your finances and the market that month.
Still have questions? I keep a running list of the ones city buyers ask me most, from school districts to fire insurance to what the ferry is really like, in my Marin real estate FAQ.
Sources
Planning a move from the city?
Send me a note through my contact form. I’ll help you narrow down towns, line up your sale and purchase, and spend a Saturday touring with you.