Novato (Spanish for "Novatus") is a city in Marin County, California, United States, situated in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. At the 2020 census, Novato had a population of 53,225.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Novato ranks

All →

#22Most conserved land in CA #31Closest to a top hospital in CA #84Lowest obesity in CA All CA rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code94945, 94947, 94948

Area code415

Living in Novato

Housing in Novato

$1.06M▲ 1.5% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Novato home is worth about $1,062,000, up 1.5% in a year, 39% above the California typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market32

Sale-to-list100%

Sold in May52

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Novato

C⁺

Safety Grade C+

Novato reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 62% report less. Within California, it does better than 63% of towns.

Violent crime per 1,000

Novato 2.1

California 4.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Novato 12.9

California 18.2

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Novato

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Novato for work: only 16% work in town. The top destinations are San Francisco (18%), San Rafael (12%) and Petaluma (3%). Half commute less than 20 miles.

San Francisco

18%

San Rafael

12%

Petaluma

Oakland

16%Work in townlive and work in Novato 20 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 21,512Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Novato →

Health in Novato

A⁻

Health Grade A−

Healthier than 83% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with California

15better than CA·2worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 15 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▲ 2▼ 9 close Habits 2▲ 2 close Care 5▲ 2 close Mind 3▲ 2 close Everyday needs 4▲ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

11.4%Fewer adults facing food insecurityCA 17.9% · better 10.2%Fewer adults facing housing insecurityCA 14.9% · better 9.6%More adults who have had cancerCA 6.4% · worse

Care nearby

Novato Community HospitalNovato · 1.1 mi · ER

Marin Community Clinic - Novato SouthNovato · 1.1 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthNo shortage

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Novato · CMS · HRSAHealth in Novato →

Natural hazards in Novato

Very high

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 89% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🏚️ Earthquakes

323Does Novato flood?paid flood claims since 1980 3Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Novato MapNovato vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Novato →

Climate in Novato

Full climate →

Novato has warm winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 76°, a January night drops to 41°, and snow is almost unheard of.

58° / 41°Winter

66° / 45°Spring

76° / 52°Summer

71° / 48°Fall

How much snow does Novato get?Almost none.Rain & snow →Does it ever freeze?In about 70% of years.Frost →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.4° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Novato →

Schools in Novato

All Novato schools →

School Grade B

The public schools Novato’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 63% of California’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

#155Best public schoolsof 574 in CA

DistrictNovato UnifiedSchools18

Hamilton TK-8 CElementary · Grades K–8 · 544 students Pleasant Valley Elementary AElementary · Grades K–5 · 464 students San Ramon Elementary A-Elementary · Grades K–5 · 456 students Rancho Elementary A-Elementary · Grades K–5 · 387 students Lu Sutton Elementary B-Elementary · Grades K–5 · 367 students Olive Elementary A-Elementary · Grades K–5 · 364 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within CA. Ratings are from neighbors.