Novato, California SperlingViews

This is a great place if you like the outdoors. There are plenty of hikes just minutes away. Beaches are a short drive too. Great for hikers and mountain bikers.

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North Bay community comes of age - 7/28/2009

Novato, CA is in northern Marin County, approximately 18 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco. Primarily residential in character, it has a population of approximately 50,000. Public schools are considered "good" if not outstanding. Weather is mild, California coastal type without the fog and raininess of Portland or Seattle areas. Marin County cost of living is substantially above US averages, as is most of the San Francisco Bay Area. As a result of its desirability, average incomes and educational level attained are higher than average as well. Quality of life is quite good; California freeways are crowded, especially at commute times; people seem to have a "mellow" temperament. Average folk on fixed income may struggle with the outsized cost of living. If you one or more good jobs, you're a happy camper.[read more...]

Great Outdoor Life - 8/24/2008

This is a great place if you like the outdoors. There are plenty of hikes just minutes away. Beaches are a short drive too. Great for hikers and mountain bikers.[read more...]

Heavenly Weather - 7/5/2008

Marin County has some of the best weather in the United States. "Winter" starts in about November, and this can vary from year to year, which consists of rain (sometimes a ton of rain, sometimes not) and daytimes of 50's. It's a wonderful place to enjoy the outdoors pretty much year round.[read more...]

About Novato - 3/25/2008

We moved to Novato from Southern Marin County (Mill Valley) and found the schools very disappointing. Now it is too expensive to move back for better schools and we have to consider moving out of state. California schools are always under budget pressure and lacking.[read more...]

Living in a wealthy County - 2/19/2008

The Bay Area in general is expensive. Marin County is no different. We live in a small house, we bought for around $200,000 ten years ago. Today, our junky little house is worth around $550,000 (even with the housing market tanking). Gas and food prices are comparable with Hawaii's prices. Although costs are very high, the area is safe and the community generally friendly. We are trying to become more "green" as a county. Novato has the feel of small town living to some degree. The restaurants are just ok, locally but we have the added benefit of being 40 minutes from San Francisco. The streets are generally safe and crime rates are fairly low. We feel safe letting our girls (13 and 16) walk around town with their friends. The schools are close enough that I walk our younger children (6 and 8) to school every morning. My only real complaint is that the community does not have much culture. There are no good Museums, Art Shows, Ethnic Celebrations or Symphonies. There is very little culturally diversity and it shows. I grew up in San Franciso and find the lack of culture disheartening. On the other hand, I feel safe raising kids in a safe community and San Francisco is 40 minutes away.[read more...]

Convienent to Everything, Housing to High - 6/23/2006

Good weather, okay schools, low crime....would love to raise a family here, but housing costs are out of reach for most.[read more...]