Living in Novato, California
More space, more sun and the closest Marin town to wine country
Last updated September 2026 · By Melissa DiVita, REALTOR®, Compass · DRE #01387955 · Marin native, in real estate since 2003
Why Novato
Novato is Marin’s northernmost city and its most affordable major market, with about 53,000 residents. Buyers come for bigger lots, newer homes, warmer weather and open space on every side: Mt. Burdell, Rush Creek, Stafford Lake and Olompali State Historic Park. The trade-off is a longer drive to San Francisco, about 29 miles.
Neighborhoods
- Old Town / Downtown. Walkable Grant Avenue, with the SMART station nearby.
- San Marin and Novato Heights. Hillside homes with open space and views.
- Hamilton. The former Air Force base, now a planned neighborhood with its own SMART station.
- Marin Country Club Estates. Homes around the private Marin Country Club (golf, tennis, pickleball, pool).
- Indian Valley. Semi-rural Novato, with bigger lots, barns and horse properties right up against open space.
My brother lives in Indian Valley, and visiting him is like stepping into a different world. He has a barn with chickens, goats and pigs, and people ride by on horseback. If you want a little farm life without leaving Marin, this is where to look.
Schools
Novato is served by the Novato Unified School District: seven elementary schools, Hamilton K–8, Sinaloa and San Jose middle schools, and two high schools. San Marin High and Novato High ranked #5 and #6 among Marin public high schools by Niche for 2026, both graded A−.
Getting around
- SMART train: Three Novato stations (Downtown, San Marin, Hamilton), running south to Larkspur and north into Sonoma County.
- Bus: Golden Gate Transit Routes 101 and 154.
- Driving to SF: Plan on 45 to 90 minutes at peak.
Wine country at your doorstep
From Novato, Highway 37 and Highway 121 lead to Sonoma and Napa, so weekend wine country trips are easy. Novato is the closest Marin town to both.
Things to do
- Bay Club Rolling Hills and StoneTree Golf Club
- Marin Country Club (private)
- Indian Valley Golf Club and the Indian Valley open space preserve
- Dining: Masa’s Sushi (in the MICHELIN Guide), Lone Mountain Barbecue, Beso Bistro
- Hamilton Field History Museum, Olompali State Historic Park, Mt. Burdell
Home prices
Redfin reported a Novato median sale price of about $1.1 million in August 2026, based on 149 sales, up about 5% from a year earlier.
Shopping with a $2 million budget? Read my honest take on what $2 million gets you in Marin, town by town.
Financing in Marin. Many Novato homes fall under Marin’s 2026 conforming loan limit of $1,249,125, so plenty of buyers here can use conforming or FHA financing instead of a jumbo loan. My husband Michael DiVita is a mortgage broker and owner of DiVita Home Finance, with access to 40+ wholesale lenders, and he’s a great resource for jumbo and bank-statement loans. Learn more at mycahomeloan.com.
Disclosure: Michael DiVita is my husband. You are free to choose any lender; using DiVita Home Finance is never required, and I receive no referral fee.
Honest trade-offs: is Novato right for you?
Novato is a great fit if you:
- Want sun and open space, with Mount Burdell, Indian Valley and Olompali close by.
- Drive north to Sonoma often. The Highway 101 widening through the Novato Narrows was finished in September 2025, with carpool lanes all the way from Sausalito to Windsor.
- Want SMART and a less hectic pace than southern Marin.
Think twice if you:
- Commute to San Francisco every day. Novato is the longest drive in Marin.
- Don’t like heat. Summers are warmer at the north end of the county, so look at shade and cooling.
- Are looking in the low-lying areas near the Bay, like Bel Marin Keys. Get a flood review and insurance quote early.
More in my Marin microclimates guide, and if you’re selling, see what Novato requires at sale.
A year in Novato
Novato has some of the biggest community events in Marin.
- Festival of Art, Wine & Music (second weekend in June): a free two-day street festival on Grant Avenue.
- Fourth of July Parade: one of the largest in the Bay Area, drawing an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 people to Grant Avenue.
- Summer concerts: Concerts on the Green at the Civic Green and Hot Amphitheater Nights at Hamilton.
- Marin Century (early August): the county’s big bike ride starts at Stafford Lake.
- Nostalgia Days (October): hundreds of vintage cars downtown.
- Tree lighting (first Saturday in December): Santa arrives on a fire ladder truck.
- Farmers market: Tuesday evenings on Sherman Avenue, May to October.
Novato is also where Marin opens up. Indian Valley has a 558-acre open space preserve and the 18-hole Indian Valley Golf Club, and Olompali, Mount Burdell and Stafford Lake Park, with its bike park and disc golf course, are all close by.
For every town’s traditions in one place, see my Marin events calendar, plus my nightlife, outdoors and clubs guides.
Novato real estate FAQ
Is Novato the most affordable town in Marin?
It’s the most affordable of Marin’s major markets. Redfin reported a Novato median sale price of about $1.1 million in August 2026, based on 149 sales, up about 5% from a year earlier. Buyers come for bigger lots, newer homes, warmer weather and open space on every side. The trade-off is distance: Novato is about 29 miles from San Francisco.
How long is the commute from Novato to San Francisco?
By car, plan on 45 to 90 minutes at peak. Novato has three SMART stations (Downtown, San Marin and Hamilton), running south to the Larkspur ferry and north into Sonoma County, and Golden Gate Transit Routes 101 and 154 serve the city. Buyers who commute into San Francisco every day should test the drive at rush hour before they commit.
What schools serve Novato?
Novato Unified School District has seven elementary schools, Hamilton K–8, Sinaloa and San Jose middle schools, and two high schools. San Marin High and Novato High ranked #5 and #6 among Marin public high schools by Niche for 2026, and both have an A− grade.
What is the Hamilton neighborhood in Novato?
Hamilton is the former Hamilton Air Force Base, now a planned neighborhood with its own SMART station. The Hamilton Field History Museum tells the base’s story. It’s a good fit for buyers who want newer construction and a train connection.
More questions about Marin? See my Marin real estate FAQ, or ask me directly.
Working with a Novato realtor
Novato buyers usually want more space and value, and Novato is family territory for me: my brother lives in Indian Valley. The trade-offs are the commute and, near open space, wildfire insurance, and every neighborhood balances them differently. I’m a fourth-generation Marin native and have been in real estate since 2003, starting at Hill & Co. in San Francisco. Today I’m with Compass in Tiburon.
What I focus on when buying or selling in Novato:
- Commute planning: SMART, bus or 101
- Neighborhood differences: Hamilton, San Marin, Novato Heights
- HOAs and community fees in planned neighborhoods
- Wildfire insurance near Mt. Burdell and open space
Selling in Novato? Start with a free, local home valuation. Buying? Read how to choose a Marin realtor and whether you need a buyer’s agent.
Sources
Want more space in Marin?
Send me a note through my contact form. I’ll help you weigh Novato’s space and value against the commute.