Belvedere is an island a mile long and less than one-half mile wide, connected to Tiburon by a land bridge. The two towns are very much alike, with both their premier real estate prices motivated by spectacular views of the San Francisco skyline, Angel Island, the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco Bay.
Belvedere real estate matches its very affluent community and ranks 8th (Tiburon ranks 53rd) in the Forbes 2010 Priciest Zip Code List. Click on the link for weekly updated reports on Belvedere Real Estate or a monthly Belvedere city report.
There used to be however distinct differences between the towns; while Belvedere was home to the rich, Tiburon, in its day as home base for a railroad, was considered “the other side of the tracks.”
Belvedere celebrated its 100th year as a city in 1996. Marin’s smallest incorporated community is also one of the most exclusive. There is just enough room for some of the most expensive homes in Marin and the historic San Francisco Yatch Club.
The two elementary schools and one middle school in the local Reed Union School District are rated in the top one percent among California schools.
Belvedere, which translates in Italian to “beautiful view”, was well and aptly named, with exceptional views of San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, Angel Island and Belvedere Lagoon. The beauty is quite breathtaking.
Facts about Tiburon and Belvedere
The Towns of Tiburon and Belvedere are located just north of San Francisco, in Marin County, California. They are accessible by ferry from downtown San Francisco, as well as by car from Highway 101 and Highway 131 (Tiburon Boulevard). Together, they occupy most of the Tiburon Peninsula, which reaches south into the San Francisco Bay. The smaller city of Belvedere (formerly a separate island) occupies the south-east part of the peninsula and is contiguous with Tiburon. Tiburon is bordered by Corte Madera to the north and Mill Valley to the west, but is otherwise surrounded by the Bay.
Belvedere is a tiny city, less than one square mile in size, surrounded on three sides by the waters of San Francisco Bay. The population of just over one thousand is clustered in three neighborhoods: Belvedere Island, Belvedere Lagoon, and Corinthian Island. The city is completely built out with single-family homes and approximately 100 rental units.
The weather in Belvedere is extraordinary. Coastal breezes keep the air fresh and clear and the temperatures moderate all year; the average low in January is 42.9 degrees, the average high in July only 74.9. 260 days a year are mostly sunny.
The median age in Belvedere is 53. For many years the population has been predominantly 55+, however the number of young families with children is steadily growing and the City hosts swarms of children at its newly-renovated playground– the most popular children’s park in southern Marin.
Visit some of our local websites and watch a video:
City of Belvedere – Official Website
Tamalpais Union High School District
Bella Belvedere Spring 2010 – City of Belvedere Newsletter
Marin-Magazine/April-2011/Belvedere/
