Residential comparison · 13 facts
Novato, CA vs San Rafael, CA
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Novato needs about $89,500 in San Rafael to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from San Rafael, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $80,500 in Novato.
A few differences
- San Rafael is higher on median household income ($119,435 vs $115,736).
- Novato is lower on cost of living index (161 vs 181).
- Novato is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($2,557/mo vs $2,664/mo).
Novato vs San Rafael · facet by facet
| Facet | Novato, CA | San Rafael, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $1,032,500 | $1,355,600 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $2,557/mo | $2,664/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.75% | 0.75% |
| State & local income tax | 2.09% | 2.09% |
| Sales tax | 8.8% | 8.8% |
| Cost of living index | 161 | 181 |
| Groceries index | 112 | 112 |
| Utilities | $245/mo | $245/mo |
| Median household income | $115,736 | $119,435 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Crime index | 52/100 | 52/100 |
| School rating | 5.5/10 | 5.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 260 days | 260 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Novato, CA · San Rafael, CA
Questions & answers
- Is Novato cheaper than San Rafael?
- Novato has the lower day-to-day cost index (161 vs 181 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in San Rafael equals $85,000 in Novato?
- A household earning $85,000 in Novato needs about $89,500 in San Rafael to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of San Rafael lifestyle costs about $80,500 in Novato.