Compare Marin Towns
Side-by-side comparisons for the decisions buyers actually face
Most buyers I work with end up choosing between two or three places. These guides put them side by side, with honest trade-offs and sourced numbers.
| Comparison | The question it answers |
|---|---|
| Tiburon vs. Mill Valley | Bay views and the ferry, or redwoods and Mt. Tam? |
| Belvedere vs. Tiburon | Same ZIP code and same schools. What’s actually different? |
| Marin vs. the Peninsula | Where should a San Francisco family move? |
| Redwood vs. Tam vs. Archie Williams | Which Marin public high school does each town feed? |
How to choose a Marin town: the five questions I ask
When someone tells me they want to move to Marin, I don’t start with listings. I start with five questions. The answers usually narrow a county of a dozen towns down to two or three, and that is where the side-by-side guides above come in.
1. How will you get to work?
Tiburon and Sausalito have their own ferries, and the Larkspur ferry serves Larkspur, Corte Madera, Kentfield, Greenbrae and the Ross Valley. San Rafael, Novato and Larkspur have SMART train stations. Mill Valley is a few exits from the Golden Gate Bridge. If you commute to the city every day, this question matters more than any other.
2. Which high school do you want?
Most of southern and central Marin feeds one of three public high schools: Redwood, Tamalpais or Archie Williams. San Rafael and Novato have their own. Because assignment follows the address, not the town name, school choice often decides the search.
3. What does your budget buy here?
The same budget buys a very different home in Novato than in Tiburon. The table below shows recent medians, but I always price from the specific street.
4. Sun or fog?
Southern Marin canyons get more summer fog. Central and northern Marin are usually sunnier and warmer. Visit at 8 a.m. and at 4 p.m. before you decide.
5. Walk to town, or room to spread out?
Downtown Mill Valley, Larkspur, San Anselmo, Sausalito and Tiburon are walkable. Kent Woodlands, Sleepy Hollow, Novato and West Marin trade that for bigger lots and more privacy.
Marin towns side by side
| Town | Public high school | Getting to San Francisco | Median sale price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiburon | Redwood | Ferry, about 30 min | About $3.46M (3 mo. to Jul 2026) |
| Belvedere | Redwood | Tiburon ferry, a short walk or drive | About $6.0M (3 mo. to Jun 2026, 14 sales) |
| Mill Valley | Tamalpais | Drive, about 20 min to the bridge off-peak; commute buses | About $1.9M (city, Aug 2026) |
| Sausalito | Tamalpais | Ferry, about 30 min | About $1.54M (Aug 2026) |
| Corte Madera | Redwood | Larkspur ferry, about 35 min | About $2.0M (94925, 3 mo. to Aug 2026) |
| Larkspur | Redwood | Larkspur ferry and SMART | About $1.9M (3 mo. to Sep 2026) |
| Kentfield | Redwood | About 5 min to the Larkspur ferry | About $3.2M (3 mo. to Jul 2026) |
| Ross | Redwood | About 10 min to the Larkspur ferry | About $3.4M (3 mo. to Jul 2026) |
| San Anselmo | Archie Williams | About 10 min to the Larkspur ferry; commute buses | About $1.59M (Jul 2026) |
| Fairfax | Archie Williams | Drive to 101 or the Larkspur ferry | About $1.2M (3 mo. to Aug 2026) |
| San Rafael | San Rafael or Terra Linda | SMART to the Larkspur ferry; all-day buses | About $1.3M (Aug 2026) |
| Novato | Novato or San Marin | SMART; 45 to 90 min drive at peak | About $1.1M (Aug 2026) |
| West Marin | Tamalpais, Tomales or Archie Williams | Most residents don’t commute daily | Varies widely by village |
Prices: Redfin. Confirm school assignment for any address with the district.
Other matchups buyers ask me about
Larkspur vs. Corte Madera
Next-door neighbors that share a school district and Redwood High. Larkspur has the historic downtown on Magnolia Avenue, the redwood canyons and the ferry and SMART at Larkspur Landing. Corte Madera has flatter streets, two shopping centers, and was ranked Niche’s #1 place to live in Marin for 2026. Parts of Corte Madera near the Bay carry real flood risk, so check the map.
San Anselmo vs. Fairfax
Both feed Archie Williams and both sit against the Mt. Tam watershed. San Anselmo has the antique shops, Madcap and Insalata’s, and is usually the pricier of the two. Fairfax is more independent-minded, with live music, the birthplace of mountain biking on Repack Road, and some of the more affordable homes in central Marin.
Mill Valley vs. Sausalito
Both feed Tamalpais High and both are minutes from the bridge. Mill Valley is redwoods, trails from your front door and a busy downtown square. Sausalito is hillsides above the water, the ferry and houseboats. Steep lots and stairs are the thing to watch in both.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best town to live in Marin County?
It depends on what you need. On Niche’s 2026 rankings of places to live in Marin County, Corte Madera was #1, San Anselmo #2 and Larkspur #3. For a daily ferry commute, Tiburon and Sausalito are hard to beat. For the most space for the money, look at Novato.
What is the most affordable town in Marin County?
Novato is the most affordable of Marin’s major markets, with a median sale price of about $1.1 million in August 2026 (Redfin). Fairfax is one of the more affordable ways into central Marin, and parts of San Rafael, especially the Terra Linda and Lucas Valley Eichler neighborhoods, come in below the county median.
Which Marin towns have a ferry to San Francisco?
Tiburon, Sausalito and Larkspur. The Larkspur ferry also serves Corte Madera, Kentfield, Greenbrae and the Ross Valley, and connects to the SMART train. Tiburon and Sausalito take about 30 minutes to the Ferry Building, Larkspur about 35.
Still deciding?
Send me a note through my contact form. I’ll tour both with you on the same day.