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Compare towns

Tiburon vs Malibu

337 miles apart. The biggest differences: street grid (5.6× in Tiburon) and growth since 2010 (+17.8 pts in Tiburon).

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Tiburon, CAHomes around $3.05MCalifornia · 9,012 people
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Malibu, CAHomes around $3.16MCalifornia · 10,421 people
Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

★ What stands out · Report cards

Tiburon places higher on 17 of 22 CA lists

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.

Monthly cost

A typical home costs $600 more a month in Malibu

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Tiburon$17,270/mo
Typical home $3.05M (Zillow) · tax rate 0.50%+ · or rent about $3,501/mo · Housing →
Malibu$17,860/mo
Typical home $3.16M (Zillow) · tax rate 0.50%+ · or rent about $3,501/mo · Housing →

The difference: $600 a month, about $7,200 a year, between Malibu and Tiburon.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value; “+” means the Census top-codes that town’s bill at $10,000, so its real rate is higher.

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
TiburonMalibu
Snow a year0″0″
January low44°F50°F
July high71°F69°F
Growing season (days)365d365d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)74th87th
Outdoors & history
TiburonMalibu
Conserved land19.2%5.7%
National Register places54
Archive photos1112
Famous people born here4—
Community
TiburonMalibu
Library hours a week49 hrs60 hrs
Colleges in town—1
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined01

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.

Where they are

337 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Tiburon ↔ Malibu337 miles apart
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.

TiburonMalibu
People
Population 9,012Lowest 10,421Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +2.1%Highest CA: +6.1% -15.7%Lowest CA: +6.1%
Median age 51.6±1.6Lowest 36% above CA 53.9±5Highest 42% above CA
Malibu and Tiburon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 19.6%±3.2Highest CA: 22% 16%±3.5Lowest CA: 22%
Tiburon and Malibu are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 27.5%±4.3Lowest CA: 15.7% 31.8%±4Highest CA: 15.7%
Malibu and Tiburon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 80.1%Highest CA: 37.1% 68.6%Lowest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 6%±3.6Lowest CA: 7.6% 6.9%±3.8Highest CA: 7.6%
Malibu and Tiburon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $232,969±$37kHighest 135% above CA $194,421±$36kLowest 96% above CA
Tiburon and Malibu 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 $2,000,001 172% above CA
Rentmedian gross, monthly $3,501 72% above CA $3,501 72% 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 38.6%±14.5Lowest CA: 55.3% 53.7%±9.6Highest CA: 55.3%
Malibu and Tiburon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 1.9%Lowest CA: 12% 12.6%Highest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 74.9%Lowest CA: 55.9% 75.4%Highest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1970Lowest 6 yrs older than CA 1976Highest same as CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 29 minLowest about the CA average 32 minHighest 12% above CA
Work from home 42.7%±8.1Highest CA: 17.2% 40.1%±9Lowest CA: 17.2%
Tiburon and Malibu are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 5.1%Lowest 9.5%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 9.3 miLowest 22.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.57Lowest 1.45Highest
Top workplaceoutside town San Francisco (36%)Los Angeles (34%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in MalibuFew work in Tiburon
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 19.2%Highest 5.7%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 17.0 miLowest 45.7 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.3 miHighest 0.5 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 9Lowest 25Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 20.1Highest 3.6Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #20 of 574 in CA#206 of 574 in CA
School district Reed Union ElementarySanta Monica-Malibu Unified
High school in town None in townMalibu High
Students per teacherat that high school — 14.5
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.

Tiburon neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Tiburon’s Town Square.

Malibu neighborsTown Square →
T Weaver · 1w

Living in Malibu

1 neighbor in Malibu can answer.

Add a town

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Bordering Tiburon

Towns like Tiburon

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.

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