Mill Valley and Sausalito are two of Metro San Francisco's treasured communities. Both are located north of the city in Marin County near San Francisco and San Pablo bays and the majestic Pacific Ocean. Sausalito and Mill Valley are known for their quaint charm, natural beauty and flavorful cultural events. According to the latest Census report, Mill Valley has a population of 13,600 residents and Sausalito has 7,330 residents.

Mill Valley, an Alpine-like village located high up on the shoulders of Mt. Tam is primarily made up of artists and professionals. Here, towering redwoods are woven throughout the neighborhoods giving residents the feeling of being far away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Mill Valley is bordered on three sides by breathtaking parklands. To the south lie the Marin Headlands, which is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Muir Woods National Monument is on the west, and Mt. Tamalpais State Park is on the north. As a result, Mill Valley residents consider these their back yards and consider themselves stewards of their environment. Hiking, bicycling, and horseback riding are all enjoyed throughout the year.

For almost a century, the creative and performing arts have been an integral part of the community. Since 1913, the Mountain Play Association has presented quality theatrical performances during the summer months in the natural outdoor amphitheater on Mt. Tamalpais. Performances like "West Side Story," and "My Fair Lady" have graced the stage and entertained individuals throughout the Bay area. Additionally the annual Mill Valley Film Festival is known throughout the world. This is a 10-day screening of the latest and most innovative of new short and feature length films. Festivities include a videofest, interactive and new-media exhibits, seminars, workshops, special events and a children's film festival. Also in the autumn, Mill Valley takes on another life when it presents the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival at Old Mill Park. Featuring a diverse selection of juried arts and crafts, entertainment, and food concessions.

One of Mill Valley's most unique aspects is the selection of housing environments. The community includes cottages and bungalows in the sycamore neighborhood communities like Eucalyptus Knoll. There are scores of individually designed homes tucked into groves, canyons and hillsides. Appearing much like a European village, many homes in the downtown area have an Old World flavor. Mill Valley's desirable location and emphasis on maintaining the community's size and uniqueness combine to keep home prices among the highest in the Bay Area. The median price of a home in Mill Valley for 1999 was $620,000.

Five elementary and one middle school comprise the Mill Valley School District. The District takes pride in the quality of its well-rounded academic program and its small class sizes. The elementary and middle schools rank academically in the top five percent in the state. KIDDO, the schools foundation, provides funding for art, music, poetry and technology programs in the K-8 classes. Often compared to a small college campus, Tamalpais High School sits on a beautifully landscaped hillside overlooking Richardson Bay. The students come from the communities of Mill Valley, Sausalito, Marin City, Bolinas and Stinson Beach.

Sausalito, named by a Spanish explorer for the little willows, or saucelitos, growing along its shores, always has been a vibrant and popular area. In the 1800s, the area was called Whaler's Harbor, and sailors and whalers flocked to the port for its safe harbor, saloons, bordellos and gaming houses. After its incorporation in 1893, the town became a major ferry and railway center, and then a shipyard during World War II. Through the 1960s, Sausalito became known as the bohemian retreat of artists, writers, actors, poets, and others who spent their time on waterfront houseboats. Today, Sausalito is a favorite tourist destination, for its art galleries, restaurants, and boutiques. It also serves as the gateway to the glorious wine country.

Sausalito is also a haven of art and culture. In fact it is celebrating nearly 50 years as the home of the Number #1 Art Festival in the nation - The Sausalito Art Festival. In addition, the city features seasonal Artists Open Studios, several world-class art galleries and the new "Opera By The Bay".

This Mediterranean-style village, nestled against the Marin County headlands boasts excellent weather and breathtaking views. It is a desirable area for its beautiful and in some cases, funky and eclectic homes that line the hills facing the bay as well as the harbor. The median home value is $786,200 for a single-family residence. The median household income in Sausalito is $87,469 per year.

Along with children from neighboring Marin City, Sausalito students attend schools in the Sausalito School District before heading to Tamalpais High School, in the Tamalpais Union High School District. Colleges and universities available to both communities within ten miles include the University of San Francisco, University of California-San Francisco, College of Marin, Academy of Art College, Golden Gate University-San Francisco, San Francisco State University, and City College of San Francisco.


Sausalito and Mill Valley are two premier communities in the Bay Area. These charming villages offer a high quality of life and are an ideal place to live, work, retire or raise a family. If you're thinking of moving to Mill Valley and Sausalito, California, our relocation packet is yours for the asking!