OVERVIEW: Just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, stretching north from the bay through forest, mountain, and pasture, lies Marin County. Thanks to slow-growth policies, Marin has a relatively small population and thousands of acres of open space. The county manages to encompass a little bit of everything, from the cosmopolitan seaside cafes of Tiburon and Sausalito to the dairies and ranches of West Marin. There are 11 incoporated cities in the county. Southern Marin comprises the wealthy communities of Sausalito, Belvedere, Tiburon, and Mill Valley. Drive a little farther up on Highway 101 and you'll pass Larkspur, Corte Madera, Greenbrae, Fairfax and Ross. San Rafael and Novato are the county's two largest cities.

There are also many unincorporated communities in the fog and misty valleys of West Marin, Woodacre, San Geronimo, Forest Knolls and Lagunitas line Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, which runs from San Pablo Bay all the way out to the lighthouse at the tip of Point Reyes Station, Inverness, Marshall, Tomales and Nicasio, as well as Olema, Bolinas, Stinson Beach and Muir Beach.

HOUSING: Marin has some of the highest home prices in the state. Over the past four years, the number of homes sold has remained steady, as have home prices.

EDUCATION: Marin schools are consistently ranked among the top in the state, with students earning SAT scores well above state and national averages. High school completion rates are high, and the dropout rate countywide is the fourth lowest in the state. Adult education programs are available.

TRANSPORTATION: Highway 101 is the corridor in and out of the county, both to San Francsico in the south and Sonoma County in the north. To that end, there are several hot spots that are nearly always congested during morning and afternoon commutes, most notably southbound right around the Marin City exit.

PUBLIC SAFETY: Marin is generally a low crime area. County jail occupancy is the lowest in the state. County police and fire agencies provide services to unincorporated areas and assist city departments.

DEMOGRAPHICS: Marin County's population has remained relatively stable over the past several years. Marinites fall into a range of ages, ethnicities, education levels, and occupations.

PARKS & RECREATION: The county boasts a plethora of state and local parks and beaches, and recreation opportunities abound.

AMENITIES: The county has many shopping centers, movie theatres, and churches. Please view detailed information under the specific city you are interested in.

WEATHER: Temperatures can range greatly depending on location int he county. Northern and Central Marin get the most sunshine and least precipitation, while Southern and Coastal Marin tend to be cooler and foggier.