Commute
An elevated score in the commute category points to excellent public transit accessibility and shorter-than-average work commute times in this area.
Employment
Higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates are seen in this area. The result is a high score in the employment category.
Ratings
Based on recent surveys and polls, locals gave high marks in the walkability to local amenities, safety, public transit, friendliness of neighbors and overall sense of community in the area.
Cost Of Living
Living in this region comes with a high cost of living, translating to elevated costs for homes, goods and services, groceries, utilities, health care and transportation.
Health & Safety
The low score in this category could be due to challenges related to air quality and the limited accessibility of health-related facilities like hospitals, nursing homes, doctors and pharmacies.
Novato is a moderately-sized city located in the state of California. The city has a population of 55,468 people. If we look at the most recent Census, Novato is known to have a predominantly White population. The next two most common races are Asian and Black. In Novato, there seems to be a shift in population towards an older age group. The average age of the population is now 49, which is significantly higher than the nation’s average. An important consideration when living in Novato is the longer-than-average commute times. If you seek a short work commute, this area may not be the best choice for you. The one-way commute time here typically takes 33 minutes, far surpassing the national average of 26 minutes.
Whether you’re moving to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Novato could be a positive experience compared to other cities in California if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. To help you find the best places to live in and around Novato, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, cost of living, commute, housing and more.
With a livability score of 71/100, Novato is ranked #5,938 in the United States and #207 in California. There are nine total categories that generate the livability score. Novato ranks well for crime (B) The bad news for Novato, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (D) and cost of living (F).
Being close to public transit, grocery stores, parks and other conveniences are all important when weighing your options for a new home in Novato. Before you determine if any of these amenities are available in the area, you will also want to know if the real estate prices in Novato are affordable. Median real estate prices in Novato come in at $1,438,859, which is 96.7% higher than the California average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Novato, the home price to income ratio is 9.4, which is 22.1% higher than the California average.
| Statistic | Novato | California | National |
| Average one way commute | 33min | 28min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 69.7% | 73.5% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 10.6% | 10.6% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 6.4% | 5.2% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.4% | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 2.4% | 2.7% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 10.3% | 5.4% | 4.6% |
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