Bay Area residents have always known about the unique charms of Marin County, and the word is spreading:
A new study found that Marin County men live longer, on average, than in any other county in the United States. And Marin County ranks second in the nation for life expectancy among women.
Men in Marin County live an average 81.6 years, and women live 85.1 years, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington. The Marin Independent Journal quoted one of the study’s authors as saying that Marin’s life expectancy rates are high because most residents don’t smoke, are physically active, and eat a healthy diet.
“The people in Marin decided to live healthier, and they are getting their reward for their lifestyle,” Dr. Ali Mokdad told the IJ. “That’s something we’d like to see everywhere else.”
Mill Valley: One of the Best
Meanwhile, Smithsonian Magazine has put Mill Valley on its list of the 20 Best Small Towns in America. This comes as no surprise to us at Pacific Union International, but it’s always a thrill to see our local favorites get the attention they deserve.
The May issue of Smithsonian describes Mill Valley as “one of the jewels in a necklace of beautiful towns – along with Sausalito, Marin City and Tiburon – across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco.” The article notes that an influx of wealthy commuters threatens to crowd out some of Mill Valley’s bohemian landmarks, yet the town remains vibrant and blessedly eclectic.
The Smithsonian article was released just as we were preparing Pacific Union’s first-quarter real estate report, and Mill Valley’s hometown appeal helped to make Marin County one of the brightest spots in our survey of Bay Area real estate markets.
Home sales in Marin County jumped 9 percent in the first quarter of 2012, compared with the first quarter of 2011, and Mill Valley was the epicenter of activity, with 16 multiple-offer transactions. The year is off to a strong start!
(Photo by Mark Richards, Smithsonian Magazine)