Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every California ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools

AStrawberryBetter than 92% of districts in the state –AltoNot graded

Health

A+StrawberryHealthier than 98% of U.S. towns A+AltoHealthier than 96% of U.S. towns

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons

StrawberryAlto

Snow a year0″0″

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)79th 83rd

Outdoors & history

StrawberryAlto

Trails3 mi —

Conserved land15.2%—

Settled1949 —

Archive photos1 —

Community

StrawberryAlto

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Only big differences vs California average

StrawberryAlto

People

Population 5,830Highest 1,024Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +1%Lowest CA: +6.1% +3%Highest CA: +6.1%

Median age 43.9±3.4Highest 16% above CA 42.3±19Lowest 12% above CA

Strawberry and Alto are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 22%±4.4Lowest CA: 22% 24.3%±14.1Highest CA: 22%

Alto and Strawberry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 21.3%±1.9Highest CA: 15.7% 9.8%±8.8Lowest CA: 15.7%

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 72.1%Highest CA: 37.1% 67.1%Lowest CA: 37.1%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 7.8%±2.2Lowest CA: 7.6% 8.9%±12.5Highest CA: 7.6%

Alto and Strawberry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $157,661±$33kHighest 59% above CA $129,191±$123kLowest 30% above CA

Strawberry and Alto are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $2,000,001 172% above CA —

Rentmedian gross, monthly $2,958±$413 45% above CA —

Property taxmedian, yearly $10,000+ at least 95% above CA $10,000+ at least 95% above CA

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 57.7%±6Highest CA: 55.3% 31.8%±30.1Lowest CA: 55.3%

Strawberry and Alto are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 7%Lowest CA: 12% 26%Highest CA: 12%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 41.5%Lowest CA: 55.9% 47%Highest CA: 55.9%

Typical home builtmedian year 1971Highest 5 yrs older than CA 1952Lowest 24 yrs older than CA

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 30 minHighest 4% above CA 14 minLowest 51% below CA

Work from home 29.7%±5.8Highest CA: 17.2% 17.2%±16.6Lowest CA: 17.2%

Strawberry and Alto are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 4.3%Highest 0.4%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 9.8 miLowest 10.3 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.10Highest 0.20Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town San Francisco (33%)San Francisco (30%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in AltoFew work in Strawberry

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 15.2%Highest 1.6%Lowest

Trailsmapped miles 2.6 miHighest 0.0 miLowest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.4 miHighest 0.0 miLowest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 6Highest 0Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 77.9Highest 48.2Lowest

Schools

School district Mill Valley Elementary—

High school in town None in town—

California average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024

Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Strawberry neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Strawberry’s Town Square.

Alto neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Alto’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Strawberry and Alto

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Strawberry

+ Compare

Tiburon9,012 people · $2M homes

+ Compare

Mill Valley14,012 people · $2M homes

+ Compare

Tamalpais-Homestead Valley12,085 people · $1.86M homes

+ Compare

Corte Madera10,077 people · $1.76M homes

Towns like Strawberry

+ Compare

Larkspur12,854 people · $2M homes

+ Compare

Sierra Madre10,940 people · $1.23M homes

+ Compare

Brisbane4,692 people · $1.23M homes

+ Compare

Sausalito7,141 people · $1.89M homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

Strawberry vs Alto

Two towns, two different strengths

Where they part ways

Strawberry and Alto share a border

Grades and rankings, side by side

What daily life feels like in each

What matters to you?

Ask the people who live there

Set another town beside Strawberry and Alto

Bordering Strawberry

Towns like Strawberry

Post to Strawberry

Check your email