While San Rafael, California is the commercial and government hub of breathtaking Marin County. Located equidistant from both the magnificent city of San Francisco and California's world-class wine country, residents here truly have one of the most desirable locations in America. It also gives locals easy access to places such as Point Reyes National Seashore and the old-growth forests of the Muir Woods.

San Rafael currently supports a population of just over 55,805 residents, with a median age of thirty nine years old. Over thirty five percent of residents here are employed in a professional or managerial capacity, while approximately twenty three percent work in the service industry. Just over thirteen percent of folks here work in sales. The median household income within San Rafael is well above the national average, coming in at around $61,840 per year.

You will find a housing style to suit every taste in San Rafael, from single-family attached and detached styles to multi-family complexes. Home ownership has proven to be a solid investment in the area, with steady appreciation over the years. The most popular option for buyers in San Rafael is a three-bedroom model. Recent sales figures indicate that the purchase price of a home in San Rafael reflects the desirability of the region in general, and this city in particular, with a current average of $1,010,250.

San Rafael is the oldest city within Marin County, and features several distinctive characteristics and attractions. You will find a wealth of Victorian architecture throughout town, as well as a charming downtown district. The Mission San Rafael Arcangel, for which the town was named, still stands. A more recent addition is the stunning Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Civic Center.

Throughout the year, the town is alive with events, fairs and festivals. January is the peak of the whale watching season, during which time the Point Reyes National Seashore becomes an ideal viewing spot to witness California gray whales migrate to Mexico. In the summer months, visitors and locals alike turn out for the Youth in Arts Italian Street Painting Festival, when the sidewalks come to life with vibrant chalk paintings. San Rafael hosts the Marin County Fair over the Fourth of July weekend, and August brings the Marin Shakespeare Festival to town for weekend performances under the stars.

August is also the time of year when over forty local wineries offer their finest at the San Rafael Wine Festival. When fall rolls around, it brings with it the town's free art festival. Called ArtBeat San Rafael, this event showcases the work of local artists, musicians, and performance artists, while highlighting the history and culture of the region. November is the time when downtown becomes awash in candlelight for the Winter Wonderland Parade of Lights, kicked off with a candlelit walk through the streets of downtown.

San Rafael is also a gourmet's paradise. There is seemingly a bistro around every corner, offering world class cuisine highlighting the season's best local produce, meat and fish accentuated by neighboring Sonoma and Napa Valley wines. This is the place to be for those whose idea of heaven is to spend a leisurely meal with family and friends while tasting a variety of wines and telling stories around the table. Of course, its unique location provides ample opportunities to drive across the bridge to sample San Francisco. The city offers an abundance of culinary delights, boutiques ranging from exclusive to funky, and nightlife like no other city.

And with legendary Sonoma County merely minutes away, San Rafael is a wine lover's paradise. You don't need an excuse to gather some friends and take a drive through the scenic beauty that leads to the farms and tasting rooms of some of the best known wine names in America. Here, you can taste a variety of wines to find the ones that best suit your palate. And you will find the wineries are staffed by individuals who are not only knowledgeable but incredibly passionate about this process and product. Listening and learning, the wine taster walks away with new knowledge and a sense of excitement from sharing in this age-old craft.

San Rafael is one of the most scenic and friendly communities in the nation. It is at once a peaceful residential enclave and a recreational paradise. If you are thinking about moving, consider a move to the town of San Rafael, California! To learn more about this unique town, request our free relocation packet today.