Moving to Novato, CA

About Novato

Novato is Marin County's largest city (about 62,000 residents) at the county's northern end, known for its historic Grant Avenue downtown, the Hamilton Field redevelopment, and easy access to open space. A community with a small-town feel at Marin's gateway.

Home prices in Novato

The median listing price in Novato is $1,012,000.

Top places in Novato

• Historic Grant Avenue — downtown shops and restaurants.
• Novato High School (shown in the Commons photo below).
• Novato Creek and the baylands trails (shown in the Commons photo below).
• Hamilton Field — the former air base turned neighborhood.
• The Novato Community Development Building on Sherman Avenue (shown in the Commons photo below).
• Stafford Lake Park.

Commuting from Novato

• SMART commuter rail (Novato stations) to Larkspur, connecting to the Golden Gate Ferry — roughly 75–90 minutes total to downtown San Francisco.
• Golden Gate Transit buses — roughly 60–75 minutes.
• Approximate drive to downtown San Francisco via US-101 and the Golden Gate Bridge: ~40–65 minutes (toll and traffic dependent).

Schools in Novato

Public schools: Novato Unified School District. For enrollment and performance data, see the state report card in Town links below. Confirm school assignment for any address directly with the district.

Novato FAQs

• What is the housing market like in Novato, CA?
  The median listing price in Novato is $1,012,000. Median listing price (September 2026 research snapshot)
• How is the commute from Novato, CA?
  SMART commuter rail (Novato stations) to Larkspur, connecting to the Golden Gate Ferry — roughly 75–90 minutes total to downtown San Francisco.
• Which school district serves Novato, CA?
  Novato is served by Novato Unified School District. See the state report card in Town links, and confirm school assignment for a specific address with the district.

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