City · 52,546 residents · Marin County, California
Novato, California
In Novato, a typical home is worth $1,032,500 and typical rent is $2,506 a month. Compared with all of Marin County, the typical home value is 32% lower and typical household income is 22% lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $991,629 to $1,064,815.
Typical rent
$3,969a month
▲ 4.8% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $3,288 to $3,969.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Novato is in Marin County. The FHA loan limit ($1,249,125 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Marin County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
The typical home in Novato is worth $1,032,500,32% less than in Marin County as a whole ($1,507,300).
2
The typical household income in Novato is $115,736,22% less than in Marin County as a whole ($149,091).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Novato
What homes there are in Novato, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Novato
Marin County
California
United States
Kind of home: Novato and its comparisons
Measure
Novato
Marin County
California
United States
Detached house
59%
63%
57%
61%
Attached house
12%
8%
7%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
7%
9%
8%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
20%
19%
24%
19%
Mobile home
3%
1%
4%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
0%
The detached house is still the most common home in Novato, but it weighs less than in Marin County: 59% against 63%.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Novato
Marin County
California
United States
Year built: Novato and its comparisons
Measure
Novato
Marin County
California
United States
Before 1960
20%
37%
27%
26%
1960–1979
45%
38%
29%
24%
1980–1999
21%
17%
25%
25%
2000–2009
13%
5%
11%
14%
2010 or later
2%
3%
8%
11%
The typical home in Novato was built in 1975, 8 years after the typical one in Marin County.
There is more room for a big family here: 65% of homes have 3 bedrooms or more, against 59% in Marin County.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100KUnreliable
$100K–$200KUnreliable
$200K–$300KUnreliable
$300K–$500K5%
$500K–$750K12%
$750K–$1M25%
$1M or more53%
Value of owner-occupied homes: Novato and its comparisons
Measure
Novato
Under $100K
Unreliable estimate
$100K–$200K
Unreliable estimate
$200K–$300K
Unreliable estimate
$300K–$500K
5%
$500K–$750K
12%
$750K–$1M
25%
$1M or more
53%
Monthly rent with utilities
Under the limitOver the limitCould be either side
Under $5005%
$500–$9994%
$1,000–$1,4994%
$1,500–$1,99913%
$2,000–$2,49924%
$2,500–$2,99919%
$3,000 or more31%
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms: $3,697
Monthly rent with utilities: Novato and its comparisons
Measure
Novato
Under $500
5%
$500–$999
4%
$1,000–$1,499
4%
$1,500–$1,999
13%
$2,000–$2,499
24%
$2,500–$2,999
19%
$3,000 or more
31%
At least 69% of rented homes in Novato cost less than $3,000, below HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($3,697).
With a mortgage
$3,846 a month
Marin County: $4,000 or more a month
Without a mortgage
$1,036 a month
Marin County: $1,315 a month
Owners with a mortgage
67%
Marin County: 67%
With a mortgage, owning in Novato typically costs $3,846 a month; without one, $1,036.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Novato+32%
Marin County+51%
California+46%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Novato+23%
Marin County+29%
California+36%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Novato+14%
Marin County+29%
California+32%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Novato and its comparisons
Measure
Novato
Marin County
California
United States
Typical home value
+32%
+51%
+46%
+53%
Typical rent
+23%
+29%
+36%
+33%
Typical household income
+14%
+29%
+32%
+29%
The typical home value in Novato rose 32% since 2015–2019, less than in Marin County (51%).
Rents in Novato rose more slowly than in Marin County: 23% since 2015–2019, against 29%.
Here income did not keep up with housing: it rose 14%, while home values changed +32% and rent +23%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Novato and its comparisons
Measure
Novato
Marin County
California
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
3.8%
4.2%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
0.8%
0.8%
0.9%
More than one person per room
5.7%
4.4%
8.2%
3.4%
People per household
2.58
2.44
2.84
2.53
Drive alone
64%
52%
66%
69%
Carpool
8%
7%
10%
9%
Public transit
4%
4%
3%
3%
Walk or bike
3%
5%
3%
3%
Work from home
20%
32%
17%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
1%
2%
2%
Typical commute
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
More households are short on space in Novato: 5.7% have more than one person per room; in Marin County, 4.4%.
More people live in each home here: 2.58 on average, against 2.44 in Marin County.
To get to work, 64% of workers in Novato drive alone; in Marin County, 52%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Novato?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Novato, worth $1,032,500, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 89% of the typical household income in Novato, which is $115,736 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $368,224 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Marin County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Novato. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $36,138 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$8,592
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$1,013,798
Total interest
$1,458,618
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $17,436 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $2,701 a month
Tight
$2,701 to $3,472 a month
Hard
more than $3,472 a month
Your payment · 89%
Compared with the typical household income in Novato ($115,736 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$6,868
Property tax
$671
Home insurance
$430
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$623
You need at least $36,138 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $8,592; principal and interest $6,868.
The city and its county
Novato and Marin County
Novato is in Marin County, California. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Novato
Map of Marin County, California, with Novato marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Novato
Marin County
Other cities with a page
Novato's own numbers
Typical home value
$1,032,500
Typical monthly rent
$2,506
Typical yearly household income
$115,736
Households that own their home
66%
Effective property tax rate
0.78%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Marin County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$1,249,125
Conventional limit, one unit
$1,249,125
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$3,697
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+25%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
12%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Marin County.
A typical home in Novato is worth $1,032,500: 32% below the county and 41% above California. With the typical household income in Novato ($115,736 a year), a typical home costs 8.9 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Novato8.9 years
Marin10.1 years
California7.4 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Marin County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Marin County rose 45% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Marin County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Marin County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +9.0% +9.0% 2016
2017: +2.5% +2.5% 2017
2018: +5.5% +5.5% 2018
2019: +0.2% +0.2% 2019
2020: −2.1% −2.1% 2020
2021: +6.8% +6.8% 2021
2022: +12.5% +12.5% 2022
2023: +3.1% +3.1% 2023
2024: +2.2% +2.2% 2024
2025: −0.8% −0.8% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Marin County, California and the United States
Period
County
California
U.S.
Last year (2025)
−0.8%
+0.8%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+25%
+40%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+45%
+80%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Novato next to Marin County, California and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Novato$1,032,500
Marin$1,507,300
California$734,700
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Novato$2,506
Marin$2,668
California$2,036
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Novato$115,736
Marin$149,091
California$99,122
United States$80,734
See the full table
Novato next to Marin County and California
Measure
Novato
Marin County
California
U.S.
Typical home value
$1,032,500 ▼32% below the county
$1,507,300
$734,700
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$2,506 ▼6% below the county
$2,668
$2,036
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$115,736 ▼22% below the county
$149,091
$99,122
$80,734
Households that own their home
66% ▲1 points above the county
65%
56%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$8,101 ▼19% below the county
$10,001
$5,124
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.78% ▲0.12 points above the county
0.66%
0.7%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
65% ▲10 points above the county
56%
55%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Marin County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Novato
For a typical $1,032,500 home in Novato, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Novato's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$8,592a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$36,138
Cash to close
$67,113
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $623
Conventional, 5% down$8,237a month
Down payment
$51,625
Cash to close
$82,600
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $490
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$6,697a month
Down payment
$206,500
Cash to close
$237,475
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$7,651a month
Down payment
$154,875
Cash to close
$185,850
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Novato
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$8,592
$36,138
$1,013,799
7.18%
FHA MIP · $623
$67,113
580
Conventional, 5% down
$8,237
$51,625
$980,875
7.18%
PMI · $490
$82,600
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$6,697
$206,500
$826,000
7.18%
None
$237,475
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$7,651
$154,875
$877,625
8.18%
None
$185,850
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Novato is $2,506 a month: 6% below the county. In Novato, 65% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Marin County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($3,697 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $71.10 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Marin County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$2,574
$49.50
$102,960
1 bedroom
$3,003
$57.75
$120,120
2 bedrooms
$3,697
$71.10
$147,880
3 bedrooms
$4,832
$92.92
$193,280
4 bedrooms
$5,439
$104.60
$217,560
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Novato
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Novato has 3 ZIP codes with their own.
For 2 bedrooms it runs from $3,250 in 94945 to $3,590 in 94949.
None is above the fair market rent for Marin County ($3,697).
2-bedroom fair market rent in each of the 3 ZIP codes of Novato, beside the one for Marin County. For 2 bedrooms it runs from $3,250 in 94945 to $3,590 in 94949. None is above the fair market rent for Marin County ($3,697).
2-bedroom fair market rent in each ZIP code
Each line is one ZIP code: in color, those above the county's fair market rent; in gray, the rest.
County: $3,697
Lowest: $3,250 (94945)Highest: $3,590 (94949)
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Novato, fiscal year 2027.
94945
$2,240
$2,680
$3,250
$4,150
$4,530
94947
$2,370
$2,760
$3,400
$4,440
$5,000
94949
$2,500
$2,920
$3,590
$4,690
$5,280
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
94945 $3,250$4,150
94947 $3,400$4,440
94949 $3,590$4,690
3 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Novato when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 13 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Novato. These are the largest.
Bay Vista at Meadow Park5 Hutchins Way, Novato 94949220 homes, 218 low-income · 2 bd: 116 · 3 bd: 104 · In service since 2006 · For families
Wyndover Apts809 Diablo Ave, Novato 94947136 homes, 135 low-income · 1 bd: 78 · 2 bd: 57 · In service since 2005 · For families
Villas at Hamilton Senior Apts410 S Palm Dr, Novato 94949129 homes, 127 low-income · Studio: 41 · 1 bd: 69 · 2 bd: 18 · In service since 2002 · For older adults
Creekside at Meadow Park46 Tinker Way, Novato 9494977 homes, 76 low-income · 2 bd: 18 · 3 bd: 43 · 4 bd: 16 · In service since 2004 · For families
Warner Creek Senior Housing806 Diablo Ave, Novato 9494761 homes, 60 low-income · 1 bd: 60 · 2 bd: 1 · In service since 2012 · For older adults
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Marin County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Novato or Marin County. The ones below are statewide in California: they work in Novato the same as in the rest of the state.
CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers in California.Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).
CalHFA down payment loan for first-generation buyers in California; when you sell, you repay the loan plus a share of the home's appreciation.Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).
CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers who use the CalPLUS Access mortgage (FHA or conventional).Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Novato or Marin County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Novato and all of Marin County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Novato?
The typical home value in Novato is $1,032,500, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Marin County it is $1,507,300.
How much does it cost to rent in Novato?
Typical rent in Novato is $2,506 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Marin County is $3,697.
What is the FHA loan limit in Novato?
Novato uses the FHA limit for all of Marin County (2026): $1,249,125 for a one-unit home and $2,402,625 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Novato?
The typical homeowner in Novato pays $8,101 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.78% of the home’s value; in Marin County, the rate is 0.66%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Novato?
There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Marin County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
