Novato

In West Novato, an quiet suburb between downtown Novato and Stafford Lake Park, people settle down for the schools and established atmosphere. “[West Novato] is a bit more affluent, a bit more established,” says Katie Wigington, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathway and Novato Resident. Much of the neighborhood was built in the 1970s, and homes sold to young people looking to settle down. “People bought homes here after they graduated high school,” says Wigington. “It used to be cops and firemen, now it’s an upper middle class neighborhood.” Houses in West Novato have only become more valuable with time. “Lots of people who bought their homes here are in their 70s and they bought houses 50 years ago,” says Wigington, “When were worth about $175,000.” Today, it’s hard to find a home in West Novato for under $1 million, and some homes reach $2 million. Ranch homes are popular here, and most lawns are crisply cut, or residents favor gardens of shrubs and small trees. The area is part of Novato Unified School District, which has a B rating on Niche. Pleasant Valley Elementary has a B rating on Niche, and Sinaloa Middle School has a B rating. San Marin High School has a B-plus rating and has a variety of extracurricular activities for students, like ping pong, mountain biking and comic book clubs. Redwood Highway is about five miles away, and provides a direct route into San Francisco, about 30 miles away. Downtown Novato also has a Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit station downtown, which provides area residents with a route around Marin and to the San Francisco Ferry. For international travel, the San Francisco International Airport is about 40 miles away. West Novato brushes up against Ohair Park, Indian Tree Open Space Preserve, where hiking routes like Big Trees Trail and Rebelo to Wilson Trail wind their way through the trees. Stafford Lake Park is a short drive from most homes in the neighborhood and covers about 140 acres. The park has an activity for just about anybody. Bird watchers can spot waterfowl, raptors and songbirds through their binoculars, and anglers can hook catfish, bluegill and bass. Equestrians can board their horses at Longview Stables and ride them around the facility and on nearby trails like Big Trees Trail. Downtown Novato is the spot to shop for West Novato residents, especially along Grant Avenue. The walkable district has a variety of restaurants and shops, from daytime diner Bacon and early-morning favorite Marvin’s Breakfast Club to Dr. Insomniac, a coffee shop where Novato’s busiest residents go to stave off sleep with hot cups of coffee and tea. Watts Music invites melophiles to browse vinyls, tapes and discs, and Accents or Hodgepodge Thrift Store offer a variety of clothing styles. Ayawaska Hilltop is just off Grant Avenue and serves cocktails and Peruvian cuisine. Downtown Novato also has a Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s location. Events

Cooled by bay breezes, the master-planned Hamilton neighborhood is close to major highways and outdoor recreation. “It’s a very diverse and family-friendly area,” says Cris Criollo, a local resident and community library specialist at the neighborhood’s South Novato Library. “We have the beautiful levee bay on the eastern side, where a lot of people love to go bike and hike along the trails. In the summer, we have a lot of events that go on in the area, and there’s also a big farmers market here once a month that’s a big thing for locals.” Between the 101 and San Pablo Bay, 26 miles north of San Francisco and home to its own SMART train station, this southern Novato residential suburb was built on the site of a former Air Force base. “Construction here is newer than the usual midcentury builds in central and northern Marin with generally large homes on smaller lots, set pretty close together,” says Marin County Realtor Megan Pomponio of Compass. “You’ll find a focus on community spirit, especially during the holidays.” The neighborhood was home to the Hamilton Air Force Base (also known as Hamilton Field), built in the early 1930s for the 1st Bombardment Wing that served in both World Wars. After closing in 1988, the city of Novato soon adopted the Hamilton Master Plan for Hamilton’s 414-acre planned, mixed-use community, which has almost 300 of the base’s original homes and buildings. Hamilton’s subdivisions include well-paved, tree-lined streets and sidewalks studded with ornate iron lampposts. All properties within the neighborhood have access to the Hamilton community pool and gym, and most have monthly HOA fees. Spanish Colonial Revivals with peach-toned stucco and Craftsman properties sit behind well-manicured front lawns. Single-family housing prices range from $1.2 million to $1.8 million. The neighborhood also features Pueblo-style townhouses with one-car garages, ranging from $500,000 to $950,000. Other area housing options include the 55-plus manufactured home community, Los Robles Mobile Home Park. Prices here for mid-century style manufactured properties range from $200,000 to $450,000. Students can attend Hamilton Meadow Park School, which gets a C-rating from Niche and serves kindergarten through eighth grade. Another option is the A-minus-rated public Novato Charter, a 2023 California Distinguished School and Waldorf School with prominent music and Spanish programs. The B-plus-rated Novato High School in nearby Indian Valley offers a Medical Careers Pathways program for students interested in attending medical school. Reclaimed from a former airfield, the Hamilton Wetlands, located on the neighborhood's eastern side, is its main outdoor attraction. Sprawling 650 acres along the vast San Pablo Bay, the site slowly evolves from mudflats to a dense tidal marsh. Residents can walk along the flat, gravel-packed Hamilton Wetlands Bay Trail, enjoying bay breezes, waterside views and native plants amid the area’s reeds, grasses and open skies. This outdoor recreational site is also home to various birds, from sandpipers to pelicans and long-billed curlews. Residents can hike to the wetlands’ popular levee for scenic bay views. Next to the Bay Trail are the public Hamilton Community Pool and South Hamilton Park, a family-friendly recreational hub with several play areas and a baseball field. The local Marin Museum of Contemporary Art shows the work of its artists-in-residence and other locals. The museum offers art classes and community events, including free artist showcases, where residents can check out paintings and speak with artists. The popular South Novato Library features The Shop, a free community gathering space where people can learn woodworking and sewing. The library also hosts various events, including free family story time sessions and holiday events, such as a children’s Easter Egg hunt and Halloween trick-or-treat social. The neighborhood is near Highway 101, allowing convenient access in and out of the city. San Francisco is 25 miles south of the neighborhood, and residents can utilize Hamilton’s very own SMART train station, which has active daily light rail routes for easy commuting and traveling to San Francisco via public transportation. Residents can enjoy shopping and dining options inside and outside of Hamilton. Kitchen, an intimate café offering fresh pastries and sandwiches, is a neighborhood favorite. Some of the area’s best dining is located a few miles north in Central Novato. Residents flock to Aurora Ristorante Italiano for Italian classics, from pasta to panini, with popular patio seating. Nearby, the modern eatery Toast offers creative, seasonal salads, omelets and sandwiches. Safeway is nearby for groceries and the family-owned Nugget Markets is located two miles north on Ignacio Boulevard.

In Ignacio, a southern Novato suburb, 1800s ranch land transformed into 20th-century military housing before becoming a contemporary suburban sprawl, leaving a legacy of riding stirrups, stars, and stripes. “[Ignacio] features a few distinct communities,” says Marin County Realtor Megan Pomponio of Compass, who grew up in Ignacio. “Pointe Marin used to be Air Force base housing, but it's now a master-planned community," Pompino continues. “The upscale Marin Country Club area was built in the 1960s and feels like an established suburb, while Pacheco Valle is mostly condos from the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.” All these neighborhoods were once the province of cowboys and today's residents can explore 2,000 acres of nature preserves, or, if they're feeling less adventurous, just go shopping. Ignacio’s neighborhoods reflect its history as a dynamic, transforming neighborhood. Marin Country Club Estates has multi-million dollar ranch homes along tree-lined streets, and homes here range from $1.5 to $3.6 million. Pacheco Valle’s condos cost between $500,00 and $800,000, and Pointe Marin’s master-planned homes, typically classic styles like Georgian or Tudor, cost between $1 and $2 million. The area is part of Novato Unified School District, which has a B rating on Niche. Lomda Verde Elementary School has a C rating on Niche, and San Jose Middle School has a B rating. Novato High School has a B-plus rating and has a variety of extracurricular activities for students, like ping pong, mountain biking and comic book clubs. The College of Marin, one of California’s community colleges, is just outside the neighborhood. Redwood Highway runs along the neighborhood and leads into San Francisco. Ignacio also has a Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit station on the other side of Redwood Highway, which provides area residents with a route around Marin and to the San Francisco Ferry. For international travel, the San Francisco International Airport is about 40 miles away. At Marin Country Club, guests and members tee off on an 18-hole golf course, swim in the pool, or thwack tennis balls and pickle balls back and forth on the club's courts. In the surrounding subdivision, residents zip around the streets in their personal golf carts. Hikers also have plenty to do, with over 2,000 acres of preserved land at their disposal. Indian Valley, Pacheco Valle, Ignacio and Loma Verde Preserves all welcome people (and sometimes dogs) to explore trails that weave and wind underneath madrone, manzanitas and oak trees. Josef Hoog Park is popular for casual outdoor outings, especially for kids and families looking to burn off some energy. “[Ignacio has a] family-oriented vibe. I’ve spent time there for soccer games,” says Katie Wigington, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway and Novato resident. The park has grassy fields and a picnic area where people set up camp chairs and lay tablecloths for cookouts. Pacheco Plaza is the neighborhood’s primary shopping center. People can also drive five miles to downtown Novato, but Pacheco Plaza has restaurants and shops covered. Marin Coffee Roasters bustles in the early mornings, and the ovens at Boca Pizzeria run hot during lunchtime to feed the afternoon rush. People can also get their clothes tailored, shoes repaired, and their nails done at the other shops. For groceries, people stop by Nugget Markets, a family-owned grocery store.

Once known as a more rural-leaning community, San Marin has grown to become a little more urbanized with time. Now with its own collection of interesting parks, restaurants and shops, San Marin has much to offer residents. “There’s still an open, horse ranch-y, old-Novato vibe here,” says Novato Realtor and San Marin resident Shawna McNulty, “but these days it’s best known as a friendly place to live, with some great independent businesses and fantastic hiking trails.” A visit to any of San Marin’s parks often presents an opportunity to explore nature, play games and attend events. Mount Burdell Preserve is Marin County’s largest open space preserve, featuring several trails, groves and local wildlife. Olompali State Historic Park, rich with large boulders and straw-colored fields, faces the eastern slopes of Mount Burdell. Pioneer Park includes night lighting until 10 PM so the little ones can safely play longer, and the park hosts free movie screenings in the summertime. Miwok Park includes areas for playing a game of horseshoes and bocce or tossing around a frisbee. San Marin has many thriving local spots to grab a bite. Creekside Bakery offers sweet and savory items for breakfast and brunch while Tagliaferri’s Delicatessen makes traditional deli-style sandwiches. Every Tuesday night, Trailhead’s dinner crowd enjoys their meals while testing their trivia knowledge. At Dr. Insomniac’s Coffee and Tea, patrons can sip coffee or a smoothie while hearing live music by the patio. For an after-dinner dessert or midday snack, Bliss Asian Ice Cream and Boba Shop offers a menu of sweet treats. Harvest Market and Whole Foods are available for grocery runs. Sloat Garden Center has been a Bay Area institution, equipping residents with the tools they need to create beautiful gardens since 1958. While San Marin does not host many community activities, residents can find plenty to do in nearby Novato. First Fridays in downtown Novato puts local businesses in the spotlight, showing residents everything the retail scene has to offer. The Novato branch of the Marin County Free Library puts on events for children and adults, like Read to a Dog and English Conversation Groups. Thanks to the many developers that have bought different pieces of land throughout the years, housing styles differ all over the neighborhood. From midcentury townhomes nestled together in tight communities to single-family ranch style properties on cul-de-sacs, San Marin has a robust palette of designs. Prices range between $798,000 for three-bedroom townhomes and can go as high as $1 million for a three- to four-bedroom home. Homes typically sell after 28 days on the market. The neighborhood is served by the Novato Unified School District. San Ramon Elementary School and Sinaloa Middle School both earned a B-grade from Niche. San Marin High School holds a B-plus and is well-known for their smART program (San Marin Arts and Technical Arts.) Public transportation is available by train with Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART). Drivers have access to US-101, a significant roadway that connects southbound to San Francisco (31 miles away) and Fremont (61 miles.) To the east, Sacramento is 72 miles away via Interstate-80.

Central Novato, a neighborhood in the heart of Novato, is loved for its small-town feel, its access to beautiful Bay Area coastlines and mountains, and its proximity to San Francisco. But unlike many areas close by in the county, Central Novato is affordable. According to Kevin McGinnis, a realtor with Compass Real Estate and a current Marin County resident, Novato is the most affordable city in Marin County and the homes there are typically more affordable than the average Marin County home. “Many of the homes tend to be modest, built in the 60s and 70s with an easy walk to nearby shops and restaurants,” he says. They consist of compact bungalows and ranch-style houses situated mainly in the center of the neighborhood, near Grant Avenue. To the north and south, the streets wind into rolling pastures of nearby hillsides and feature large, custom contemporary homes boasting mountain views, with higher price tags but still affordable for the Bay Area. Residents make the most of their sometimes-limited front yards, landscaping with vibrant shrubs, flowers and small trees. Some streets have sidewalks, but even for those that don't, the roads are quiet and wide, with plenty of room for a walk or bike ride. Prices range from $675,000 for 680 square feet to $2 million for 3,900 square feet. Condos and townhouses are also available, most concentrated in the neighborhood’s northern and central sections, ranging from $325,000 for 580 square feet to $899,000 for 1,600 square feet. Kids in Central Novato often start school at Lu Sutton Elementary and then head to Sinaloa Middle School and San Marin High School, all of which are a part of the Novato Unified School District. Lu Sutton Elementary has a C-plus on Niche, Sinaloa Middle has a B and San Marin High has a B-plus. San Marin High serves about 1,100 students and has a student-teacher ratio 21-to-1. It is notable for its two STEM programs, STEM Marin and the Biotechnology Academy. Families considering private education for their kids can choose from several faith-based schools in the area. One of Central Novato's biggest draws is its proximity to parks and outdoor spaces. Mount Burdell Preserve, among the largest open space preserves in Marin County, is only a few miles north. It has trails for hikers of various abilities and stunning views of the surrounding forests, pastures and hills. For a more challenging climb, locals head to nearby Ignacio to Big Rock Ridge, a 7-mile roundtrip hike that ascends to the top of the second-highest peak in Marin County. Point Reyes National Seashore, about 20 miles west of the neighborhood, is a seaside park with craggy cliffside overlooks and pristine beaches that offer additional views of the Pacific Ocean. The neighborhood has smaller parks, including Hill Recreation Area, which provides a large athletic field, and Arroyo Avichi Park, where kids play on the playground and the baseball field. Grant Avenue serves as the neighborhood's main shopping and dining corridor. Residents find Masa's Sushi, an upscale Japanese restaurant for omakase dining, and Flour Chylde Bakery, which serves gluten-free pastries, desserts and bread. For groceries, they shop at Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, located on the neighborhood’s northeast side. In nearby Black Point, they shop at the large retail hub along Vintage Way, which offers over a dozen national retailers including Target, Costco and Petco. Residents take advantage of the city’s many annual events, including live concerts at Novato Civic Green during the summer, the Novato Art, Wine & Music Festival in early June and the annual Bouncy Ball New Year, where area kids celebrate New Year's Eve by donning souvenir hard hats and catching thousands of small bouncy balls as they’re dropped from a ladder truck 40 feet in the air. Highway 101 runs along the neighborhood’s east side, connecting to Petaluma to the north, about 11 miles, and San Francisco to the south, about 30 miles. Marin Transit offers bus stops along major streets, including Grant Avenue, Redwood Boulevard, and Novato Boulevard, for locals who want to get around the neighborhood without a car.

Two miles from Novato’s suburbs and bustling downtown, the landscape turns into ranch land, a duck-filled marsh and hilly neighborhoods called Northeast Novato. The area mixes homes with horse stables and New England cottage look-alikes along the Bahia Marsh. Northeast Novato is separated from the rest of the city by the Redwood Highway, but close to the downtown Novato Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) Station and the shops along Grant Avenue. “You get the benefits of a rural vibe in a suburban area,” says Danielle Vantress Salk, a Realtor with Eleven Real Estate. “It’s got the feeling of being off the beaten path, but it has the benefits of a suburban neighborhood like easy access to transportation and shopping.” Deer Island Preserve used to be an island that required a boat to reach until the creek around it was dredged and the water pumped out in the 1800s. Now, it's accessible by foot or hoof and popular for its 2-mile hiking and horseback riding loop that circles old Deer Island proper. The trail heads across windswept fields of tall, scrubby grass that leads to dense forests of blue, black and white oak trees. “There’s a lot of nice hiking out there,” says Kate Wigington, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway and Novato resident. “It’s peaceful.” Birders flock to Rush Creek Preserve, where they can spy around 200 species of birds. The preserve's mix of woodland and marshland has trails for bikers, hikers and equestrians. Northeast Novato is also dotted with small parks, like Slade, Night Heron and Bahia Oak Parks. Northeast Novato has three distinct areas. Houses in Bahia, a neighborhood built around the Bahia marsh in the northernmost end of the area, were planned and built in the 1960s and 70s. Homes share a unique style meant to mimic New England villages' cottages, with gambrel roofs, weathered gray siding and white framed windows. Houses on the marsh's edge have back decks on stilts above the wetlands, where common goldeneye ducks, snowy egrets and great blue herons fly in and out of the tall green reeds. “The views can be outstanding,” says Vantress Salk. “It’s a great opportunity to have some privacy.” Properties here tend to go for between $1 and $2 million. Bahia also has its own amenities, like a clubhouse, pool and tennis courts. The estates around Atherton Road were built on multi-acre lots and often have horse stables that range from $1 million to $3 million. Near Olive Elementary School, Mediterranean-inspired and brown shingle ranch-style homes sit along hilly streets that overlook the region and cost between $950,000 and $1.5 million. Downtown Novato has shopping and restaurants in a walkable district along Grant Avenue. Dr. Insomniac's offers breakfast food, coffee and tea and The Village Italian serves brunch, lunch and dinner. Small local shops like Accents and Sentimental Journey Antiques sell clothing and vintage goods, and Copperfield’s Books is popular with book lovers looking for their next read. Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods have locations in downtown Novato. Northeast Novato is part of Novato Unified School District, which has a B rating on Niche. Olive Elementary School and Sinaloa Middle School both have B ratings. San Marin High School, rated B-plus, has a variety of extracurricular activities for students, like ping pong, mountain biking and comic book clubs. Redwood Highway runs along the east side of the neighborhood and leads directly into San Francisco. Downtown Novato’s SMART trains get residents around Marin and to the San Francisco Ferry. For international travel, the San Francisco International Airport is about 40 miles away.