Novato, California Income Statistics
Novato Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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A
Novato Above average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Novato | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $110,811 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $82,482 | $67,742 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.0% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 23.8% | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 26.2% | 20.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Novato is about 12% higher than in California. Income has been growing slower in Novato (4.0%/yr) than in California (5.6%/yr).
About 24% of adults in Novato earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the California average of 18%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Novato, California grew by 40.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $110,811 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.0% per year.
Novato has been far above the U.S. median household income in every year from 2009 to 2024. The gap has narrowed from 55% in 2009 to 38% in 2024, the closest it has been.
Income Distribution in Novato
How incomes are spread across brackets, compared with the U.S. Pick a range to count who falls in it.
Households by income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 9,499 households (54.2% of all households) have an income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 40.2% of all households.
In 2024, 12.6% of households in Novato had an income under $35,000 and 38.2% had $150,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 21.6% and 22.8%.
Compared with the U.S., Novato has a larger share of households earning $200,000 or more (26.2% vs 13.2%) and a smaller share earning $25,000 to $34,999 (3.5% vs 6.7%).
| Household income | Households | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $10,000 | 589 | 3.4% | 5.1% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 343 | 2.0% | 3.5% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 672 | 3.8% | 6.4% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 613 | 3.5% | 6.7% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 1,291 | 7.4% | 10.1% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 2,178 | 12.4% | 15.5% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 2,344 | 13.4% | 12.6% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 2,811 | 16.0% | 17.4% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 2,093 | 11.9% | 9.5% |
| $200,000 or more | 4,595 | 26.2% | 13.2% |
Shares are of all 17,528 households, one per occupied home whatever its size. Households with zero or negative income are counted in the lowest bracket. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19001).
Residents 15+ by personal income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 9,072 residents (23.8% of residents aged 15 and over) have a personal income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 13.9% of residents aged 15 and over.
That is 27.0% of residents who have any income.
In 2024, 11.8% of Novato residents aged 15 and over reported no personal income, 25.6% had some income but less than $25,000, and 32.0% had $75,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 12.8%, 28.7% and 22.0%.
Compared with the U.S., Novato has a larger share of residents earning $100,000 or more (23.8% vs 13.9%) and a smaller share earning $35,000 to $49,999 (9.0% vs 12.6%).
| Personal income | Residents | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| No income | 4,475 | 11.8% | 12.8% |
| $1 to $9,999 | 3,354 | 8.8% | 11.2% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 2,325 | 6.1% | 7.0% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 4,060 | 10.7% | 10.5% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 2,607 | 6.8% | 9.5% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 3,413 | 9.0% | 12.6% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 5,671 | 14.9% | 14.3% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 3,092 | 8.1% | 8.2% |
| $100,000 or more | 9,072 | 23.8% | 13.9% |
Shares are of the 38,067 residents aged 15 and over, the only people the Census Bureau asks about income, and include those who reported none. A share of the whole population would count children as people without income, while a share of earners alone would hide the 11.8% with no income; the calculator adds that second share whenever your range leaves out people with no income. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19325).
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Novato
| Metric | Novato | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.536 | 0.572 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $90,023 | $75,172 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $80,771 | $66,071 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 10.3% | 12.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Novato, it is 0.536, lower than California's 0.572, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 11% more than women's income in Novato, California. Over a 35-year career, a 11% wage gap accumulates to roughly $323,820 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Novato, California has narrowed from about 22% to 10% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 30% in 2012. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $5,650 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Novato | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 19.4% | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 1,533 people are unemployed in Novato, California.
The average commute time in Novato is 23 minutes, about the same as in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Novato, California has fallen from 6.9% to 6.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.9% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.6% in 2019.
Novato started 1.8 points below the U.S. unemployment rate in 2011 but had risen above it by 2022, and has not been below it since. In 2024 its rate was 1.3 points higher.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Novato, California has an overall wealth index grade of A, making it notably better than California, and notably better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Novato, California.
How Rich Is Novato, California?
Novato has a wealth index grade of A. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an A grade means residents are much better off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $110,811, about 12% higher than the California average of $99,161.
Are incomes growing in Novato, California?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Novato, California rose 40%, from $79,028 to $110,811. Over the same years, income here lagged behind California as a whole: +40% against +64%.
What was the median household income in Novato in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Novato, California was $110,748, up 1% from $110,165 in 2022. The California median that year was $96,718.
What was the median household income in Novato in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Novato, California was $101,868. By 2024 it had risen 9% to $110,811.
How many people earn six figures in Novato, California?
Yes. 24% of adults in Novato, California earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 4), against 18% (about 1 in 6) in California. 26% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 20% in California.
What is the Gini coefficient in Novato, California?
The Gini coefficient in Novato is 0.536. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Novato, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Novato, California has narrowed from about 22% to 10% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 30% in 2012. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $5,650 since 2009.
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