Novato highlight
Northern Marin County community
Novato was incorporated as a city on January 20, 1960, and is today the largest by area in Marin County with a population of 53,225 residents.
Novato sits at the northern edge of Marin County, about 30 miles north of San Francisco and west of Highway 101. The city encompasses approximately 28 square miles of land that ranges from mountainous terrain in the southwest—including Mount Burdell at 1,558 feet—to marshlands and diked fields in the east. The area's roots run deep: Coast Miwok people lived here for centuries before Spanish colonial grants, and Rancho Novato was established in 1839. When Novato incorporated as a city in 1960, much of the post-World War II residential growth had already taken shape.
Today Novato is home to a mix of longstanding residents and families who have moved north for the combination of accessible location and local character. The city's economy includes technology and life sciences companies like BioMarin Pharmaceutical and 2K Games, as well as schools, retail, and service businesses. Most of Novato's population lives along US Route 101 on the eastern side of the city, with residential neighborhoods ranging from single-family homes to townhomes and apartment complexes. About two-thirds of Novato's households own their homes, with an average household size of 2.53 people.
For families building a life in Novato—whether they're buying their first home, raising children, or managing a household budget—the math is straightforward. A mortgage, car loans, childcare costs, and everyday expenses add up to a sum that depends on a regular income. A term life policy is the practical answer: it replaces that income if something happens to you, for as long as your family needs it. That's what life insurance is designed to do.