Where in the Bay Area??
Hi, we are moving from Orange County to the Bay Area. My husband has started a job in the Financial District. We are both pretty clueless about the Bay Area (I am from the UK originally and my husband from North Carolina). We have visited both Marin and Contra Costa, but are unsure which to go for. They both seem lovely. We have 3 boys (8, 4 and 4). We need somewhere with a good public school, but also what I'm really looking for is somewhere where the people will be very friendly and welcoming to us! Where would you recommend? Are some areas of Marin more social for families with young children? Thanks so much!
Hi Sarah,
I'm probably a little biased toward Marin, but most parts of the county have what you're looking for: great schools and many resources for families. You can also toss great weather, beautiful scenery, lots of outdoor recreational opportunities, and proximity to both San Francisco and the Wine Country into the mix.
Where you live here definitely depends upon your housing budget. Prices go up as you head south. I tend to think of places in central and northern Marin like San Rafael and Novato as a bit more family oriented, but Mill Valley definitely has a lot of families and really great public schools.
Parts of Contra Costa County are really nice. I'm making the assumption that you're looking in areas like Orinda and Walnut Creek. The weather over there is warmer, and you do have access to BART for the commute into the city. Of course over here we have the Golden Gate Transit bus system and of course the ferries which make for a pleasant and easy trip into the Financial District.
I guess it all ends up being a question of preference. Take a look through this site and see what Marin has to offer and I think (I hope) that you get a pretty good impression of what it's like to live here.
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for your reply. We ended up in Kentfield. It is beautiful and the people have been fantastic and incredibly welcoming and dare I say it, definitely more friendly than Orange County! The rain is taking some getting used to but I know it is necessary!! Both my kids elementary school and preschool are great.
Thanks,
Sarah.
You're welcome! I'm glad to read that you're settled. Kentfield is a great place. It is the rainiest spot in Marin, owing to the proximity of Mt. Tamalpais, but there are definitely a lot more positives to it. :)