Population
San Rafael
60,604
Novato
52,689
Median Income
San Rafael
$109,317
Novato
$112,193
Home Value
San Rafael
$1,246,200
Novato
$1,007,100
Rent
San Rafael
$2,346
Novato
$2,422
Crime Rate
San Rafael
5.59
Novato
2.54
Cost of Living
San Rafael
240.9
Novato
228.4
Avg Temp
San Rafael
N/A
Novato
N/A
Unemployment
San Rafael
5.8%
Novato
6.7%
How Similar Are San Rafael & Novato?
Novato is San Rafael's #4 most similar city
5 of 10 key metrics match within 10%
Population
San Rafael
60,604
Novato
52,689
San Rafael has a 13% larger population than Novato.
Violent Crime
San Rafael
5.59
Novato
2.54
San Rafael's violent crime is significantly higher than Novato's — 55% difference.
Property Crime
San Rafael
24.56
Novato
13.54
San Rafael has a 45% higher property crime than Novato.
Political Leaning
San Rafael
16.7%
Novato
16.7%
Both cities lean Democratic with similar vote shares — 0% difference.
Unemployment
San Rafael
5.8%
Novato
6.7%
Novato has a 14% higher unemployment than San Rafael.
Median Income
San Rafael
$109,317
Novato
$112,193
Both cities have similar median income — just a 3% difference.
Home Values
San Rafael
$1,246,200
Novato
$1,007,100
San Rafael has a 19% higher home values than Novato.
Education
San Rafael
35.4%
Novato
34.9%
Both cities have similar education — just a 2% difference.
Demographics
San Rafael
57.1%
Novato
62.5%
Both cities have similar demographics — just a 9% difference.
Cost of Living
San Rafael
240.9
Novato
228.4
Both cities have similar cost of living — just a 5% difference.
5 out of 10 key metrics match within 10%. San Rafael and Novato share several key characteristics.
At a Glance
0
San Rafael
0
Novato
Novato leads in 3 of 8 categories
Cost of Living & Affordability — Novato leads
Source: City Stats Index / HUDNovato scores 361.0 on the housing index (100 = national avg) vs 400.0 in San Rafael. Novato scores 228.4 on the overall cost index (100 = national avg) vs 240.9 in San Rafael. Novato has a living wage (1 adult) of $100,487 vs $105,980 in San Rafael (5% lower).
Overall Cost Index
Housing Index
Food Index
Transportation Index
Healthcare Index
Utilities Index
Living Wage (1 Adult)
Living Wage (Family of 4)
Fair Market Rent (1BR)
Fair Market Rent (2BR)
Housing Market — Novato leads
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSNovato has a median property tax of $7,895 vs $10,001 in San Rafael (27% lower). San Rafael has a median home value of $1,246,200 vs $1,007,100 in Novato (24% higher). Novato has a owner-occupied of 65.5% compared to 51.8% in San Rafael.
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Property Tax
Owner-Occupied
Vacancy Rate
Single-Family Homes
Jobs & Economy
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSSan Rafael has a work from home of 22.9% compared to 17.7% in Novato. San Rafael: 32,607 vs Novato: 26,608 for labor force. Novato has a poverty rate of 9.0% compared to 10.9% in San Rafael.
Median Household Income
Per Capita Income
Poverty Rate
Unemployment Rate
Labor Force
Mean Commute
Work from Home
Private Sector
Government Sector
Crime & Safety — Novato leads
Source: FBI UCRNovato has a burglary rate (per 1k) of 0.78 compared to 2.64 in San Rafael. Novato has a robbery rate (per 1k) of 0.47 compared to 1.49 in San Rafael. Novato has a violent crime rate (per 1k) of 2.54 compared to 5.59 in San Rafael.
Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)
Property Crime Rate (per 1K)
Murder Rate (per 1K)
Robbery Rate (per 1K)
Assault Rate (per 1K)
Burglary Rate (per 1K)
Larceny Rate (per 1K)
Violent Crime Clearance
Property Crime Clearance
Weather & Climate
Source: NOAA / Open-MeteoAvg Annual Temperature
Avg Annual High
Avg Annual Low
Sunny Days per Year
Annual Rainfall
Annual Snowfall
Avg Humidity
Schools & Education
Source: NCES / U.S. Census BureauSan Rafael has a bachelor's degree or higher of 35.4% compared to 34.9% in Novato. Novato has a high school diploma or higher of 46.0% compared to 45.3% in San Rafael.
Public Schools
Avg Student-Teacher Ratio
Colleges & Universities
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
High School Diploma or Higher
Demographics & Community
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSSan Rafael has a population of 60,604, about 1.2x the size of Novato (52,689). San Rafael skews younger with a median age of 43.5 vs 47.8.
Population
Median Age
Avg Household Size
Married Population
Foreign Born
White
Black
Hispanic
Asian
San Rafael
Novato
Healthcare
Source: CMS Hospital CompareSan Rafael: 5 vs Novato: 4 for with emergency services. Novato: 3.5 vs San Rafael: 3.4 for avg cms rating (out of 5).
Nearby Hospitals
Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)
With Emergency Services
Transportation & Commute — San Rafael leads
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSSan Rafael has a public transit of 6.8% compared to 4.2% in Novato. San Rafael has a bicycle of 0.9% compared to 0.7% in Novato. San Rafael has a work from home of 22.9% compared to 17.7% in Novato.
Mean Commute Time
Drive Alone
Public Transit
Bicycle
Work from Home
Airports
Cities Similar to San Rafael, CA
Compare San Rafael against its closest statistical matches across demographics, income, crime, health, and more.
City Comparison
8-axis fingerprint: population, income, housing, crime, education, age, climate, and cost of living. Click legend items to toggle.