marin county (San Francisco, Novato, Lafayette: houses, best schools, places to live)

[nohh]

Hi. My husband and I have been considering relocating to Marin County. We have two kids, a ten year old and a fifteen year old and Marin has always seemed like a good place to raise a family. We've been told to look into Tiburon, Mill Valley, Sausalito and Belvedere. I'd love if people that live/know well the area would give us an idea about this places. And maybe even suggest other towns. Where can we get the best schools, safety, the best sense of community. And how's the commute to San Francisco? Thanks.

[California Vagabond]

My information is a bit dated, but no one else has responded (yet), so I'll have a go.

An old friend and Marin native told me a few months ago that she doesn't think Mill Valley is as "family friendly" as it used to be, and now lives in San Anselmo. I don't know what she objected to in Mill Valley and what she likes about San Anselmo, but that's what she said, and now I've shared it.

The bottleneck for the commute into S.F. is the Golden Gate Bridge. Golden Gate Transit buses are a poor substitute for BART, which provides subway access to Lafayette and other well-to-do Contra Costa suburbs conquerable to Marin. That said, Golden Gate Transit runs special express commuter buses from freeway transit hubs to downtown.

Sausalito will be easier than the other towns you mentioned, commute-wise, as it's closest to San Francisco. But there's still the bridge to be gotten across. I should say no more than this. I have logged too many hours of sitting in traffic jams on the Waldo Grade to be objective. As beautiful as Marin is, I'm afraid that's why I would never move back there.

Even by Marin standards, Sausalito and Belvedere are expensive places to live. If you can afford these burgs, you might also look at Ross, which might be the priciest town in the county. And I wouldn't rule out Larkspur, either.

[5thgenSF]

Originally Posted by California Vagabond

My information is a bit dated, but no one else has responded (yet), so I'll have a go.

Sausalito will be easier than the other towns you mentioned, commute-wise, as it's closest to San Francisco. But there's still the bridge to be gotten across. I should say no more than this. I have logged too many hours of sitting in traffic jams on the Waldo Grade to be objective. As beautiful as Marin is, I'm afraid that's why I would never move back there.

there's a tiburon ferry to SF though.

http://www.blueandgoldfleet.com/ferr...rry-schedules/

[Ruth4Truth]

I actually hope to move to Mill Valley. It's a great place to raise kids, from what I've observed. Parents let their kids run around in the redwood parks without supervision, it's that safe. All these places, including Larkspur, are very pricey, though. And CA Vagabond is right about the bridge traffic. Public transit would be the only way to go for commuting to work, you wouldn't want to go through that in your car. The car would be good for weekend trips to the city.

Novato is cheaper, you could look there, or Fairfax. Longer commute, but definitely do-able, lots of people do it. Anyplace inland from the Bay will be cheaper. In the communities that have been recommended to you, you're paying a premiium for Bay access.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by 5thgenSF

there's a tiburon ferry to SF though.

Ferry Schedules - Blue & Gold Fleet

Oh, that's right! And there's a Larkspur ferry, too.

[5thgenSF]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

Oh, that's right! And there's a Larkspur ferry, too.

you're right too. i was thinking it was the same ferry but no, a different one.

http://goldengateferry.org/schedules/Larkspur.php

[wooliemonster]

Sausalito is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. I didn't realize there was a ferry... this is something I'll have to consider.

[Susan1214]

Sausalito has almost no sidewalks except on the main road through town and it can be chilly for much of the year. Most houses are built on very steep hills with no sidewalks and the roads are mostly made of blind turns, so there would be no "playing outside" for the kids unless you have an enclosed yard. Very dangerous! I live in Sausalito and it's gorgeous, but it's really not a place for children. Mill Valley, on the other hand, is kid-central and the public schools are as good as private schools. Almost everyone you see on the street there is pushing a stroller or has kids in tow. I think it's extremely family-friendly...in fact people make jokes about it being the Bay Area's "spawning ground." San Anselmo is also family-friendly, though it's a smaller community. I've lived in all three towns.

[humboldtrat]

Originally Posted by nohh

We've been told to look into Tiburon, Mill Valley, Sausalito and Belvedere.

Got money?? Those places are the most expensive places to live in the Bay Area - maybe $1 mil for starters.

[socalinnorcal]

If you've got the change then you can live a lovely life with children in any one of those communities. Schools are great, scenery is gorgeous, great proximity to all sorts of places. Again though-- IF you've got the $$$. I assume you realize this and I assume you do. Good luck!