$1,557,477Average Value$759Average Price per Sq Ft3Homes For Sale
Legendary musicians and scenic hills
Fairfax blends small-town charm and big-city convenience less than 20 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. This town in Marin County features a lively downtown district, a very active local music scene and scenic pastoral mountain views. Fairfax’s ties with famous California '60s and '70s rock musicians are widely known, and music remains a major part of its cultural landscape today. “There’s a lot of musicians who live up in those hills," says Christine Christiansen, a local Realtor with Engel & Volkers. "I don’t think there’s a night of the week that you can’t find live music in Fairfax."
Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison lived in Fairfax in the early 1970s, and Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia, a longtime Marin County resident, was honored in 2013 by the Fairfax Town Council for his “innumerable” connections to the town, according to local news reports. Garcia and Van Morrison both played local shows at River City, a former Fairfax venue, in the ‘70s. Famously, the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane played a softball game at Central Field, now known as Contratti Park, in downtown Fairfax in the late 1960s.
Downtown Fairfax has a small rural town vibe.
Downtown Fairfax sits between Broadway and Marin's rolling hills.
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Varied architectural styles from bungalows to midcentury moderns
Homes near Fairfax’s downtown district bolster a variety of architectural styles, including bungalows, split-level houses, California ranch-style homes and midcentury modern residences. The median year built for these homes is 1951, so some houses were built as early as 1905 while others are practically brand-new. That said, many homes here have been renovated with upscale amenities, new hardwood floors and updated appliances. On the outskirts of town, along narrow, winding roads, properties sit on larger lots atop the slopes of forested ridges and deep ravines. It’s not uncommon for homes thisaway to boast views of woodland vistas with towering pines and rangy hilltops. Overall listing prices for single-family homes range from $1 million to upwards of $3 million.
The mid-century vibe can be found in Fairfax as well.
Central Fairfax is filled with small bungalows.
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Head to Broadway for shopping, dining, and live music
A stroll through Fairfax’s downtown is often accompanied by live music from small venues and cocktail bars. This is especially true on Broadway, one of the town's main thoroughfares, which connects residents to wine bars, restaurants, outdoor patios, cafes and boutique shops. It’s the perfect place to take the kids for ice cream on a hot summer day or to grab dinner and split a bottle with friends. For example, The Hummingbird is a popular brunch spot, serving up New Orleans-inspired breakfast and lunch entrees in a cozy, eclectically decorated setting. “Fairfax has a true downtown that is bustling. It’s very alive. It’s very fun,” Christiansen says.
As for running errands, commercial corridor Sir Francis Drake Boulevard is lined by convenient retailers, such as grocery stores Good Earth Natural Foods and Fairfax Market.
The shops are busy along Broadway in Fairfax.
The Hummingbird is a great place to grab breakfast in Fairfax.
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Hike among ancient redwoods
In Fairfax, outdoor activities and gorgeous hiking trails are always within reach. The town is surrounded by natural preserves and a wide variety of hiking and biking trails that snake through the hills and canyons. It’s just a few miles from Roy’s Redwood Preserve, a 293-acre forest overlooking the San Geronimo Valley, which features picturesque trails and ancient redwood groves. Local neighborhood playgrounds can be found here as well, such as Peri Park, which sits right behind the Contratti Park baseball field, shaded from the California sun by the canopy of mature trees. “Anywhere you are in Fairfax, you’re in nature,” Christiansen says.
Roy's Redwood Preserve is a short drive from Fairfax.
Fairfax-Marin's Cascade Canyon Open Space is one of the area's many nature preserves.
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Environmentally-conscious schools
Regarding school districts, Fairfax is served by not one but two. The town’s elementary and middle schools fall under the Ross Valley School District. So students can start school at Manor Elementary School, rated with an A-minus on Niche, before moving on to White Hill Middle, which is also rated with an A-minus on Niche. For the last stop on students' academic journey, they’ll switch to the Tamalpais Union School District and attend Archie Williams High, rated 9 out of 10 on GreatSchools. This high school was named after former Marin County teacher and Olympic gold medalist Archie Williams and has recently undergone environmentally conscious renovations that introduced 774 solar panels and eight EV car-charging stations to the building.
Archie Williams High School has a refreshed campus.
Manor Elementary School sits at the north end of Fairfax.
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Multiple bus stops with access to San Francisco
Marin Transit has multiple bus stops throughout Fairfax, most located on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. This main thoroughfare is also the primary method of travel for personal vehicles since it’s one of the ways to hop on Route 101, which crosses the Golden Gate Bridge into San Fransisco.
Written By
Daniel Berti
Photography Contributed By
Anthony Lindsey
Video By
Mike Dunleavy
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Julie Widergren,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
On average, homes in Fairfax, CA sell after 45 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Fairfax, CA over the last 12 months is $1,200,000, consistent with the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
