The most populus area of Marin County, California, the Central Marin region is where you’ll want to begin a home search if scenic open space and indoor / outdoor living is high up on your wish list of demands. Encompassing a vast network of gently rolling hills and a tranquil landscape that seems worlds away from the vibrant energy that surrounds nearby San Francisco, Central Marin has a relaxed vibe that many consider to be the area’s best quality.
Although often clumped together with much of the North Marin region, Central Marin mainly consists of the following communities: San Rafael, Larkspur, San Anselmo, Ross, Greenbrae, Kentfield, and Corte Madera. And for a closer look at what each has to offer, continue reading below.
Acting as the Marin County Seat, San Rafael is also the largest city in the county, boasting a population of right around 60,000 people. Providing home buyers with a great location right off San Francisco Bay, real estate opportunities here are both plentiful and highly desirable.
While the city of Larkspur isn’t positioned on one of Marin County’s bay fronts, its position alongside beautiful Corte Madera Creek still makes this one of the most picturesque communities in the area. In addition, easy ferry access makes living in the Larkspur community popular for home buyers needing to commute to San Francisco or just about any other part of the bay area.
A unique mountain town that’s full of charm and culture, San Anselmo is a hotbed for terrific housing options that won’t leave buyers disappointed. From luxury homes with incredible views to bungalows and cottages closer to downtown, it’s the diversity of homes in San Anselmo that makes this one of the more attractive options for buyers looking in Marin County.
A community with a population of just 2,500 people, the city of Ross offers small town living at its finest. Given its location immediately west of San Rafael, the beauty about living in Ross is that whatever amenities you can’t find here are still only a short drive away, truly making this a convenient place to live, work, or play.
Once a former dairy ranch, the city of Greenbrae is now a lush sanctuary that’s full of single-family homes set amongst the densely forested hills that surround this scenic location. And because of its location just off Highway 101, getting to and from San Francisco only takes about 20 - 30 minutes, which is a yet another reason why home for sale in Greenbrae continue to be highly sought after.
Bordered by Ross, Larkspur, and Greenbrae, Kentfield is one of those Marin County communities that seems to blend into its surrounding neighborhoods, even despite being established and a census-designated place here in beautiful northern California. And because downtown San Rafael is only a couple miles away, there’s more than enough things to see and do here once calling Kentfield home.
A bayfront community just off Highway 101, Corte Madera is located just north of Mill Valley, making it the southern most city in Central Marin. Considering Marin County’s high home values, homes in Corte Madera are usually pretty reasonable, which is just one of many reasons why starting a home search here makes sense.
