2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Albany, CA vs Novato, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Novato older or younger than people in Albany?
- The Median Age in Novato is 11.5 years older than in Albany.

Are housing costs cheaper in Novato or Albany?
- Novato housing costs are 13.6% less expensive than Albany housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Novato or Albany?
- The average commute for residents of Novato is 0.8 minutes longer than it is for residents of Albany.

Things to do in Albany?
Albany, CA is a pleasant village northeast of Berkeley featuring several spectacular spots such as Memorial Park perfect for exploring or Cerrito Creek Trail ideal for recreational activities; locals gather yearly at the remarkable Cajun & Blues Festival celebrating local culture with music and art.

Things to do in Novato?
Novato, California is located in Marin County, just north of San Francisco. Novato is home to nearly 56,000 people and offers a mix of rural and urban attractions. Residents enjoy outdoor activities such as Mt. Burdell Open Space Preserve and the Novato Arts Center for its art galleries, plays, and music events. Novato also boasts several shopping destinations in addition to top-notch schools, hospitals and services. With its combination of small-town charm, big-city amenities and access to pristine natural beauty, Novato provides an excellent place to call home.

 Albany, CANovato, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock53,214329,725,481
 Median Income$113,602  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock48.138.4
 Avg. Home Price$1,218,000  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock5.0%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time31.79  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Albany    4 Reviews

Albany is one of the best places to live not only in California but the USA. Niche 2023 has ranked Albany the number one suburb in California and is consistently in the  More

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Over 13 years ago

Like many places in the Bay Area, there are some mixed-race couples and gay couples in Albany. What is really striking, though, is the number of families where both  More

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Albany was originally built as a railroad workers' town. So the bad news is that nearly every house was originally two, or at most three, bedrooms with one bath, about  More

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Reviews for Novato    9 Reviews

Lush hills, hiking trails, and easy access to both wine country and San Francisco. We love it here.  More

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Over 10 years ago

Novato is a family oriented community located about 20 miles north of the Golden Gate bridge. The quality of life is excellent here assuming your job pays you enough to  More

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Over 11 years ago

We recently moved to a secluded neighborhood in Novato after 25 years in central Marin. While there are fewer restaurants and galleries, we are very pleased with our  More

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