Summer Temps in Marin County (San Francisco, San Rafael: buying a home, neighborhoods, buying)

[tg9999]

(Posted this on the California forum earlier today, but received instructions to post it on the San Francisco forum.)

Are there any current or former Marin County residents out there who can rank the following towns --- from hottest summertime temps to lowest summertime temps --- Mill Valley, Ross, San Anselmo, Larkspur, Corte Madera, Fairfax, Tiburon, Sausalito, San Rafael. We are going to be buying a home in Marin County next year and we want to avoid areas that get real hot in the summer.

(We have already visited several of the towns on the list, but you can only tell so much about weather from short visits. And I've already looked at the weather sites, but we have learned from experience over the last few years those sites tend to understate summertime high temps --- I'm looking for input from people who have actually lived in Marin County.)

Just need weather info, do not need any other info. Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

[Chuck5000]

I spend a lot of time with family in Marin county. Lowest temperatures is easy: Sausalito and Tiburon. No question at all, because they are on the water. Tree cover and distance from shore will also be factors. As for everything else, it will be neighborhood by neighborhood, and really, lot by lot. E.g. a place on a very wooded lot in Ross or Mill Valley will be cool - but other lots in Ross or MV can get hot, easily hitting 90 degrees many times in a summer. Same for San Anselmo and Corte Madera.

You didn't state what your budget was, nor size requirements. You need to know that there are wide differences in price among all of those cities, and the cheapest is not cheap. Obviously, on the water is most expensive. If you give up on getting a view home, you can find some deals on homes on lots with lots of tree cover, if they're far away. By deals I mean maybe in the $800k to 900k range, depending on size.

[tg9999]

Thanks for the reply Chuck 5000, your information is helpful. (And I know Marin County prices are high but, fortunately, that's not a concern for us.)

[G Grasshopper]

I lived in San Rafael for 23 years. Temps tend to be warmer as you go north. Coolest are Mill Valley and places on the coast, like Tiburon, Sausalito, and the west county beach towns. They are cooled by the marine layer and frequently get fog. Then Corte Madera, Larspur, Central San Rafael. San Rafael, Fairfax and San Anselmo seldom get fog. Novato is the warmest town in Marin and also is non-foggy. Fairfax and San Anselmo can sometimes be a little warmer than San Rafael because they are further inland, but only by a few degrees. There are, as mentioned some neighborhood variations. Lucas Valley, for example, can be more windy than most neighborhoods.

[tg9999]

Thanks S Grasshopper, that helps a lot.

[basehead617]

San Rafael is the hottest town on the list by far.

[tg9999]

Thanks basehead617

[G Grasshopper]

Originally Posted by basehead617

San Rafael is the hottest town on the list by far.

Well, it is almost the hottest. In my opinion, Novato is hotter, as is inland Sonoma County. Downtown San Rafael can feel really hot when shopping, due to the effect of the pavement. This summer was particularly hot. Many more heat waves than I remember. I haven't looked at any official record, but that is just my impression. On a hot summer day, there can be a huge difference between areas of the county. I remember it being in the 90s in San Rafael and the 60s at Samuel P. Taylor park. That's the marine layer for you. A foggy day in Mill Valley can be completely clear in San Rafael, with large differences in temp.