Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Novato, CA Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

52,546

Median Agei

47.5

Race & Ethnicityi

White

54.6%28,702

Hispanic/Latino

28%14,706

Asian

6.9%3,608

Two or More

6.3%3,303

Black

2.4%1,243

Other

1.8%940

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%30

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%14

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

1.9%729

High School Diploma

12%4,580

Some College (<1 yr)

5.6%2,148

Some College (1+ yr)

13.7%5,206

Associate's Degree

6.9%2,629

Bachelor's Degree

30.6%11,635

Master's Degree

11%4,199

Professional Degree

4.6%1,767

Doctorate

2.6%994

HS or Higher

89%

BA or Higher

48.9%

Graduate+

18.3%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$1,032,500

Median Renti

$2,506

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

66.1%13,258

Renter-Occupied

33.9%6,798

Total Units

20,982

Homeownership

66.1%

Vacancy Rate

4.4%

Home Values

Under $50K

0.6%75

$50K–$100K

1%134

$100K–$150K

1.1%149

$150K–$200K

0.6%76

$200K–$300K

1.9%246

$300K–$500K

5%669

$500K–$1M

37%4,912

$1M+

52.8%6,997

Rent Distribution

Under $500

328

$500–$750

132

$750–$1,000

152

$1,000–$1,250

118

$1,250–$1,500

107

$1,500–$2,000

808

$2,000+

4,840

Year Built

2020 or later

0.3%73

2010–2019

1.6%338

2000–2009

13%2,723

1990–1999

8%1,673

1980–1989

12.6%2,649

1970–1979

27.3%5,720

1960–1969

17.7%3,715

1950–1959

13.6%2,845

1940–1949

3.4%711

1939 or earlier

2.5%535

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

71.1%14,262

Electricity

24.4%4,898

No Fuel

1.5%303

Bottled/LP Gas

1.3%260

Wood

0.8%169

Solar

0.7%149

Other

0.1%15

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$115,736

Mean Household Incomei

$166,793

Per Capita Incomei

$65,423

Poverty Ratei

9.6%

Unemploymenti

5.9%

Labor Forcei

26,635

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

2.8%570

$10K–$15K

1.8%361

$15K–$20K

2.4%473

$20K–$25K

1.2%244

$25K–$30K

1.5%297

$30K–$35K

2.1%416

$35K–$40K

3.3%655

$40K–$45K

2%397

$45K–$50K

1.9%380

$50K–$60K

5%1,008

$60K–$75K

7%1,408

$75K–$100K

13%2,598

$100K–$125K

9.6%1,916

$125K–$150K

6.3%1,269

$150K–$200K

11.8%2,370

$200K+

28.4%5,694

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

901

Residentsi

1,569

Avg. Tenant Renti

$691/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

17 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing40 homes98% occupied$400/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers656 homes91% occupied$738/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 867 homes92% occupied$447/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

811/PRAC21 homes98% occupied$568/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $115,736/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $35K/yr

86.9%

Very low income$35K–$58K/yr

8.9%

Low income$58K–$93K/yr

3.4%

Moderate / aboveOver $93K/yr

0.8%

Who Receives This Housing

72.1% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

47.5% of subsidized households are minority

40.8% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

47.3% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

12,47023.7%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

2,147

Guatemala

1,466

China

565

United Kingdom

491

Philippines

391

Canada

343

India

206

Germany

143

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

24,274

Avg. Commutei

28.1 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

24,978

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

2,279(5.5% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

95.1%Insured

4.9%Uninsured

Novato, CA Population, Income & Demographics 2026