Living in Tiburon, California

A local’s guide to Tiburon’s neighborhoods, schools, ferry commute, restaurants and home prices, from someone who has raised a family here.

Last updated September 2026 · By Melissa DiVita, Compass, DRE #01387955

Why people fall for Tiburon

Tiburon is a small waterfront town on a peninsula in Richardson Bay, about 30 minutes from San Francisco by ferry. I’ve lived here for well over a decade and grew up next door in Belvedere. Main Street and Ark Row give it a real village feel, the ferry drops you at the Ferry Building, and the Reed schools are a big draw. I’m also a Tiburon realtor with Compass and have sold homes all over the peninsula, so this guide is what I tell my own clients.

It’s also more varied than people expect. Tiburon has flat, walkable streets near the schools, dramatic hillside homes with city views, and waterfront homes with private docks in Paradise Cay and Timmers Landing.

Tiburon neighborhoods

Downtown and Old Tiburon. Walk to Main Street, Ark Row and the ferry. Older homes, cottages and condos, with some of the best water views in town.
Bel Aire and Reed Ranch. Close to Bel Aire and Reed elementary schools, with many homes looking out toward the city and the Bay.
Paradise Cay and Timmers Landing. Waterfront homes, many with private docks and deep-water access. I’ve sold several here, including homes with 54- and 75-foot docks.
The hills (Via Los Altos and nearby). Contemporary and custom homes with panoramic views of San Francisco, the Bay Bridge and Angel Island.

Tiburon schools

Tiburon is served by the Reed Union School District, which is also Belvedere’s district, and then Redwood High School in Larkspur. All three of my kids have gone through the Reed schools. My twin daughters are at Del Mar Middle School now, and my son is at Redwood, where he plays on the varsity tennis team.

School	Grades	Notes
Reed Elementary	PreK–2	Reed Union SD
Bel Aire Elementary	3–5	GreatSchools 10/10; Niche #6 public elementary in Marin (2026)
Del Mar Middle School	6–8	Niche #3 public middle school in Marin (2026)
Redwood High School	9–12	Tamalpais Union HSD; Niche #1 public high school in Marin (2026)

Always confirm school assignment for a specific address with the district before you buy. Boundaries can change.

Commuting from Tiburon to San Francisco

This is Tiburon’s secret weapon. The Golden Gate Ferry leaves right from downtown and gets to the San Francisco Ferry Building in about 30 minutes. As of July 2026 the fare is $8.50 with Clipper. There’s also a ferry to Angel Island, which is a great weekend outing.

Driving, Tiburon Boulevard connects you to Highway 101 and the Golden Gate Bridge; plan on extra time at rush hour. The southbound bridge toll is $10.25 with FasTrak as of July 2026.

Where I eat in Tiburon

Sam’s Anchor Cafe. The waterfront deck is a Tiburon tradition, especially on a sunny weekend.
Luna Blu. Sicilian seafood on Main Street.
The Bungalow Kitchen. Michael Mina’s rooftop spot on the water.
Servino Ristorante. Italian on the water, a long-time local favorite.
Rustic Bakery and Caffe Acri. Morning coffee and pastries.

Things to do

Walk or bike the Richardson Bay Lineal Park path from Blackie’s Pasture.
Take the ferry to Angel Island State Park for a hike or bike ride around the island.
Hike Ring Mountain for views across the whole Bay.
Visit Old St. Hilary’s, the 1888 church on the hill.
Sail and race out of the Tiburon Yacht Club and Corinthian Yacht Club.

Clubs and life on the water

The Tiburon Peninsula Club (swim, tennis, fitness) is open only to residents of Tiburon, Belvedere and Strawberry and has a waitlist, so buying here is the way in. On summer afternoons you’ll see sailors and wing foilers out on Richardson Bay off Paradise Cay. See my clubs guide and on the water guide.

Tiburon home prices

Tiburon’s 3-month median sale price was about $3.46 million as of July 2026, up about 11.6% from a year earlier, according to Redfin. Well-prepared homes were selling around 2% over list in roughly 26 days. Waterfront and view homes can trade far above the median, while some condos and townhomes near downtown come in well below it.

Some of my recent Tiburon sales: 94 Trinidad Drive in Timmers Landing ($3,750,000), 90 St. Thomas Way ($3,350,000), 68 Via Los Altos ($3,300,000), 5 Warrens Way ($3,100,000) and 88 Trinidad Drive in Paradise Cay ($2,800,000).

Things buyers should know

Flood risk near the water. Parts of Tiburon near the Bay are in flood zones. Redfin rates Tiburon’s overall flood risk as extreme. Get a flood assessment and insurance quote early on any waterfront or low-lying home.
Docks. Check dock permits, condition and water depth at low tide before you fall in love.
Hillside homes. Drainage, retaining walls and foundations matter. I’ll bring my contractors through with you before you commit.

See Tiburon homes I’ve sold

Belvedere guide

All Marin towns

Honest trade-offs: is Tiburon right for you?

I live here and I love it, but no town is right for everyone. Here’s how I’d sum it up for a friend.

Tiburon is a great fit if you:

Want life on the water: boating, docks in Paradise Cay and Timmers Landing, and Angel Island across the strait.
Commute to San Francisco and want a ferry you can walk to from downtown.
Want the Reed schools and Redwood High, and a small downtown you can walk.
Care about fire risk: the state’s 2025 maps put most of the peninsula in the Moderate zone.

Think twice if you:

Hate traffic. Tiburon Boulevard is the main road on and off the peninsula, and congestion is a big enough issue that the town is studying it.
Want a waterfront home without the homework. Low-lying homes near the water need a flood and insurance review, and docks need their own inspection.
Want calm summer afternoons on the water side. The afternoon wind is great for sailors and wing foilers, less so for your deck.

More in my Marin microclimates guide, and if you’re selling, see what Tiburon requires at sale.

A year in Tiburon

Tiburon’s calendar follows the water and the seasons. These are the traditions I look forward to every year.

For families, Friday Nights on Main is one of the best parts of living here. Main Street closes, there’s live music, and as a mom it’s been one of the easiest ways to connect with other families. Pair it with the summer concerts in Belvedere’s park and you’ll know half the peninsula by August. It’s also why our family gives back here; see where we volunteer.

Angel Island, any weekend: walk down Main Street, take the Angel Island Tiburon Ferry, and bike the 5-mile Perimeter Road or climb Mt. Livermore. More in my outdoors guide.
Opening Day on the Bay (last Sunday in April): the Blessing of the Fleet in Raccoon Strait, hosted by the Corinthian Yacht Club since 1963.
Friday Night on Main (two Fridays each summer): Main Street closes for outdoor dining, live music and games.
Tiburon Classic Car Show (June): pre-1975 classics on the downtown waterfront.
Fourth of July: a downtown party with a dog parade and music. There are no local fireworks, so people watch San Francisco’s show across the water.
Run Tiburon (late August): a 5K and 10K that benefit The Ranch, the town’s recreation nonprofit.
Tiburon Challenger (September): pro tennis at the Tiburon Peninsula Club on the ATP Challenger tour, now at the Challenger 125 level.
Tiburon Wine Festival (early October): dozens of wineries and local restaurants on the waterfront.
Holiday Festival (early December): a toddler train on Main Street, Santa and roasted chestnuts.

Right next door, Belvedere’s free Sunday Concerts in the Park run all summer. Tiburon doesn’t have a farmers market of its own, so most of us go to Strawberry Village on Tuesdays or Corte Madera on Wednesdays.

For every town’s traditions in one place, see my Marin events calendar, plus my nightlife, outdoors and clubs guides.

Tiburon real estate FAQ

How long is the ferry from Tiburon to San Francisco?

About 30 minutes to the Ferry Building. The Golden Gate Ferry leaves from downtown Tiburon, so a lot of my clients walk or bike to the boat, and as of July 2026 the fare is $8.50 with Clipper. If you drive instead, Tiburon Boulevard takes you to 101 and the Golden Gate Bridge. Leave extra time at rush hour, and the southbound toll is $10.25 with FasTrak.

What schools serve Tiburon?

Tiburon is in the Reed Union School District: Reed Elementary (PreK–2), Bel Aire Elementary (3–5) and Del Mar Middle School (6–8). From there students go to Redwood High School in Larkspur, which Niche ranked the #1 public high school in Marin for 2026. All three of my kids have gone through the Reed schools. My twin daughters are at Del Mar Middle School now, and my son is at Redwood, where he plays on the varsity tennis team. Before you write an offer, confirm the assignment for that exact address with the district, because boundaries can change. For a side-by-side look at the high schools, see my Redwood vs. Tam vs. Archie Williams comparison.

How much does a home in Tiburon cost?

Redfin put Tiburon’s 3-month median sale price at about $3.46 million as of July 2026, up about 11.6% from a year earlier. Homes that were well prepared sold at around 2% over list in about 26 days. The median hides a wide range, though. Waterfront and big-view homes can trade far above it, and some condos and townhomes near downtown come in well below it. If you own here and want a number for your own home, I put together a valuation from the actual comps.

What should I check before buying a waterfront home in Tiburon?

First, flood risk. Parts of Tiburon near the Bay are in flood zones, and Redfin rates the town’s overall flood risk as extreme, so get a flood assessment and an insurance quote early. Second, the dock. Check the permits, the condition and the water depth at low tide. I’ve sold waterfront homes in Paradise Cay and Timmers Landing with 54- and 75-foot docks, and those details affect value as much as the house does. My insurance guide covers what to ask.

Can anyone join the Tiburon Peninsula Club?

No. The Tiburon Peninsula Club (swim, tennis and fitness) is open only to residents of Tiburon, Belvedere and Strawberry, and it has a waitlist, so buying here is the way in. If a club is part of why you’re looking at the peninsula, get on the list as soon as you close. My Marin clubs guide covers the yacht, tennis and swim clubs across the county.

More questions about Marin? See my Marin real estate FAQ, or ask me directly.

Working with a Tiburon realtor

I live in Tiburon, raised my kids here and have sold homes all over the peninsula, from Paradise Cay and Timmers Landing waterfront homes with private docks to view homes on Via Los Altos and family homes near the Reed schools. I’m a fourth-generation Marin native and have been in real estate since 2003, starting at Hill & Co. in San Francisco. Today I’m with Compass in Tiburon.

What I focus on when buying or selling in Tiburon:

Waterfront and dock homes: water depth, dock permits and flood insurance
Views: how much of the view is protected, and what a neighbor could build
Schools: Reed, Bel Aire and Del Mar boundaries
Club access: Tiburon Peninsula Club residency rules

Selling in Tiburon? Start with a free, local home valuation. Buying? Read how to choose a Marin realtor and whether you need a buyer’s agent.

Contact Melissa

Sources

Buying or selling in Tiburon?

I live here, I know the streets, and I’ll tell you honestly what a house is worth. Send me a note through my contact form.