What are the schools like in Novato, CA?

Novato is served primarily by Novato Unified. The district operates 8 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 21.1:1.

What is the median household income in Novato?

The median household income in Novato, CA is $110,948 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.5%.

What is the weather like in Novato, CA?

Novato has an average high temperature of 56.9°F in January and 80.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 33.8 inches.

Novato, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Novato, CA affordable or expensive?

Novato's cost of living index is 118, where 100 represents the national average. This means Novato is 18% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $936,100 and the median rent is $2,323 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Novato, CA?

Novato has a violent crime rate of 253.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1353.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Novato, CA a Good Place to Live?

Novato is a mid-sized city of 53,055 in California, with a median household income of $110,948 and a 6.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 118 (US average = 100), which is 18% above the national average.

Strengths: Novato stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Novato is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Novato city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 118.2

Novato's overall cost of living index is 118.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Novato costs roughly 18% more than the average American city.

Metric	Novato, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$936,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$2,323	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	68.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$110,948	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Novato's violent crime rate is 253.6 per 100,000 residents — 33% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

253.6 /100k

Property Crime

1353.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Novato is served primarily by Novato Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21.1:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Novato, CA	National Avg
School District	Novato Unified	—
Elementary Schools	8	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	21.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	48.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Novato sees average highs of 56.9°F in January and 80.9°F in July, with 33.8 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Novato, CA
Average High — January	56.9°F
Average High — July	80.9°F
Annual Precipitation	33.8"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Novato, CA	National Avg
Population	53,055	—
Median Age	48.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	29.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	68.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	4.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	14.7%	18.9%
Asian	6.9%	6.3%
Under 18	19.7%	22.2%
65 and over	25.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Black Point-Green Point, CA 2 mi Lucas Valley-Marinwood, CA 3 mi Sleepy Hollow, CA 5 mi Santa Venetia, CA 6 mi Fairfax, CA 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Novato

Novato, CA is covered by 3 ZIP codes:

94945 94949 94947

Novato vs Other Cities

Novato, CA vs Black Point-Green Point, CA Novato, CA vs Lucas Valley-Marinwood, CA Novato, CA vs Sleepy Hollow, CA Novato, CA vs Santa Venetia, CA Novato, CA vs Fairfax, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Novato, CA affordable or expensive?

Novato's cost of living index is 118, where 100 is the national average. That puts Novato roughly 18% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $936,100 and median rent is $2,323/month.

What is the crime rate in Novato, CA?

Novato's violent crime rate is 253.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1353.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Novato?

Public schools in Novato are operated by Novato Unified. The district has 8 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21.1:1. 48.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Novato, CA a good place to live?

Novato, CA has a population of 53,055, a median household income of $110,948, and an unemployment rate of 6.5%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Novato?

Novato averages 56.9°F in January and 80.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.8 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Novato?

Novato, CA is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 94945, 94949, 94947.

What is the population of Novato?

The population of Novato, California is 53,055 with a median age of 48.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Novato?

Key numbers for living in Novato: cost of living index 118 (100 = US average), median home $936,100, median household income $110,948, crime index 66 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Novato side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.