Marin (Larkspur) diversity/attitude (San Rafael, Petaluma: middle-class, sales, real estate)

[robin74ca]

I have a job offer in Petaluma and we are thinking of moving closer to the city for proximity and good schools , possibly Larkspur. Am I right that Larkspur might be a bit less monocultural and relaxed than some parts of southern marin? Is it a good place for kids? Thanks!

[LoriBee62]

Originally Posted by robin74ca

I have a job offer in Petaluma and we are thinking of moving closer to the city for proximity and good schools , possibly Larkspur. Am I right that Larkspur might be a bit less monocultural and relaxed than some parts of southern marin? Is it a good place for kids? Thanks!

I'm not aware of any part of Marin that would be considered monocultural. Do you live in the area now?

[robin74ca]

I don't, just comparing demographics to where I live now and talking to people who live there.... hard to get the whole story that way.

[LoriBee62]

Take demographic information with a grain of salt. Yes, Marin and the north bay are probably, statistically, predominantly white. But the people are very liberal, very progressive. Marin especially is a highly affluent and educated group, and the whole idea of inter-racial couples and alternative lifestyles are pretty much yesterdays news. Nobody cares. I posed the question to my husband, because he works in sales in southern Marin. His response was that people are going to be more concerned with how much money you make than the color of your skin or the origin of your accent.

[MediocreButArrogant]

Originally Posted by LoriBee62

His response was that people are going to be more concerned with how much money you make than the color of your skin or the origin of your accent.

That's what I was going to say. As long as you can afford the $1.4M median home price in Larkspur, you will be accepted. That, and make sure the supercharged Range Rover you drop the kids off at preschool in isn't more than three years old.

For diversity, there's always Marin City.

[robin74ca]

Hmmm... well, I guess if people are going to care that I am driving a 2001 Toyota Corolla then I might not want to live there either!

[MediocreButArrogant]

Well the big question is, can you afford it? You stated you lived in an upper middle-class neighborhood now. If that also describes your household income, you probably can't afford it. You need around a 99th percentile income minimum to be comfortable in Marin (at least $400k annual household income). I wouldn't want to have to make it on less.

[LoriBee62]

Originally Posted by robin74ca

Hmmm... well, I guess if people are going to care that I am driving a 2001 Toyota Corolla then I might not want to live there either!

In southern Marin? You will stand out like a sore thumb. Personally, if I could afford to live anywhere in Marin, I'd choose San Rafael. It's the only city left that still has the old Marin blue collar vibe. The rest of it has been taken over by the Range Rover crowd.

[CirclingLogan]

Originally Posted by LoriBee62

In southern Marin? You will stand out like a sore thumb. Personally, if I could afford to live anywhere in Marin, I'd choose San Rafael. It's the only city left that still has the old Marin blue collar vibe. The rest of it has been taken over by the Range Rover crowd.

Not true. I still see lots of Subarus, VWs and Priuses in Mill Valley and Tiburon. You won't see ****ty, beat up cars but there are still lots of people who prefer Marin's traditional "wealthy, but not flashy" feel.

[G Grasshopper]

Originally Posted by MediocreButArrogant

Well the big question is, can you afford it? You stated you lived in an upper middle-class neighborhood now. If that also describes your household income, you probably can't afford it. You need around a 99th percentile income minimum to be comfortable in Marin (at least $400k annual household income). I wouldn't want to have to make it on less.

This may be true in southern Marin, but is not true in northern Marin. There are lots of "upper middle class" people in San Rafael, and even more in Novato. Larkspur values will be between the two. If you are working in Petaluma, there are lots of places with good schools that are closer to the city. Get yourself a good realtor. Remember that the closer you get to the city, the higher the real estate costs. If you want to just go into the city now and then, it may be worth it to live further north.