About 13 miles north of San Francisco on Highway 101, Mill Valley offers luxury living surrounded by the Muir Woods, Mt. Tamalpais and Richardson Bay. Founded in 1900 as a lumber town, Mill Valley now protects the redwood forests that engulf its historic downtown and hillside estates. “Mill Valley has a certain cache because it's one of the more established, secluded areas in Marin County,” explains Keith Offord, a Realtor with Ross Valley Real Estate. “A lot of cities in Marin can feel like suburbs off the 101, but when you drive back into the hills in Mill Valley, you get the sense that you’re going into an old mountain town.” Local families can enjoy year-round community events and access to some of the top-rated schools in Northern California. “A lot of people from San Francisco will move here to raise a family because the city’s only 20 minutes away and the schools are top-notch from elementary to high school,” says Joshua Bouffier, a broker with Coldwell Banker Realty.
The views from high atop the many trails of Blithedale Canyon.
Every house in Almonte is in the hills, and people who move there sometimes stay for life.
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High home prices in Marin County
As of early 2025, Mill Valley’s median home price is about $2.2 million, nearly five times higher than the national median. "A lot of the properties here are expensive even by Marin standards, because they're secluded by all the trees and have character," Bouffier says. In Downtown Mill Valley , Craftsman cottages and Queen Anne-style homes from the city’s lumber-mill days sit close together along walkable streets. In areas on the city’s outskirts like Blithedale Canyon , custom-built hillside estates sit on lots shaded by redwoods and California live oaks.
A wide variety of architectural styles can be found on Almonte’s residential streets.
Some of the houses sit high atop the mountains in Blithedale Canyon.
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Redwood forests, mountain ridges and beach access
“If you like nature, you’ll like Mill Valley,” says Arash Khalatbari, Founder of Extramile Property Management. The Muir Woods National Monument sits immediately west of the city, famous for its valleys of old growth redwoods. Trails from here lead to the sandy cove at Muir Beach and to Mount Tamalpais State Park, where hikers and campers can catch views of the surrounding forests and coastline from rocky outcrops. Mill Valley is also home to 19 public parks, including sports facilities, dog parks and a nine-hole municipal golf course in Blithedale Canyon.
Near Almonte the famous Muir Woods are popular for day trips among families.
A group of hikers enjoys the lush foliage and mountain terrain at Blithedale Park.
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Mill Valley and Tamalpais Union schools
Mill Valley students are served by two school districts. The Mill Valley School District earns an A from Niche and serves kindergarten through Grade 8. The Tamalpais Union High School District scores an A-plus and is the highest rated district in Marin County. Students can either attend A-rated Tamalpais High in Mill Valley or A-plus-rated Redwood High in nearby Larkspur.
Colorful steps celebrate diversity and inclusion at Mill Valley Middle School.
Discover exceptional education and a nurturing at Tamalpais High School.
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Downtown Mill Valley
Brick plazas, century-old buildings and eclectic local businesses lend Downtown Mill Valley a European flair. Miller Avenue here is lined with art galleries, vintage clothing stores and restaurants. Cafes and taverns give residents a place to enjoy their mornings and evenings, and the Mill Valley Market grocery store is stocked with organic food items. The nearly 100-year-old Sequioa Cinema still shows new movies, and the intimate Sweetwater Music Hall is famous for attracting big rock acts. Outside the downtown area, a wider variety of brand-name retailers and grocery stores can be found on Miller Avenue and Blithedale Avenue.
Families enjoy the quaint charm of downtown Mill Valley below Blithedale Canyon.
Peruse stores like The Edit nearby Blithedale.
Urban Remedy offers tasty and refreshing food and drink for healing.
San Francisco is only a half an hour drive from Downtown Mill Valley.
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Year-round events in Mill Valley
Mill Valley celebrates its shared love for the arts and outdoors with year-round events. In the summer, folks can enjoy the Mill Valley Music Festival at Friends Green or retreat into the mountains for concerts and plays at the Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre. The Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival spotlights local craftspeople and entertainers in September, the small town is filled with tourists during the Mill Valley Film Festival in October. At Spring’s end, the Dipsea Foot Race invites locals to run from the old depot in downtown to Stinson Beach.
Convenient commutes to San Francisco
Highway 101 (commonly called "the 101") runs along the Mill Valley’s eastern edge, leading 13 miles south to San Francisco. “A lot of people will take the Sausalito Ferry to skip the traffic because Sausalito’s as south as you can get to San Francisco,” says Khalatbari. With an expansive network of walking trails and bike lanes, Mill Valley is among the most walkable cities in Marin County. Marin Transit’s Route 17 buses also help locals get around the city and county. The closest hospital is MarinHealth Medical Center, about 5 miles north. Locals can book the Marin Transporter bus to San Francisco International Airport (SFO), 26 miles north.
Rapidly declining crime figures
The Mill Valley Police Department has reported rapidly declining crime rates over roughly the last decade. Between 2013 and 2023, total crime in the city fell by 74%.
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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.
