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Novato is an increasingly welcome place to do business. In addition to its economic base, which is increasingly integrated into the new industries of the Bay Area, Novato provides relatively low costs of doing business and a high quality of life. As described in Novato's Economy, Novato has a growing base of high-wage service industries, global opportunities, low unemployment, and a growing tax base for city improvements. In addition, Novato and the North Bay have a highly-skilled workforce, sound and improving infrastructure, and high quality of life measures.
Human Capital
Novato has a highly-skilled workforce, compared with most Bay Area cities (Figure 16). About 32 percent of Novato residents have at least a four-year college or professional degree, compared with less than one-in six in Fairfield and a Bay Area average of just under 30 percent. In addition, as discussed below, Novato's per pupil spending at its public schools exceeds most Bay Area cities.
Opportunities for Commercial Expansion
Unlike the rest of Marin County, which has very strict limits on business expansion, Novato provides ample space and opportunities for new and growing businesses.
Novato offer more than 1.2 million square feet of commercial and office space. A survey of rental property classified advertising indicates an average price per square foot of just under $1 in Novato. This is considerably less than average prices in other areas of the county. The highest prices were recorded in the southern part of the county, which registered prices of up to $3 per square foot.
Permit Streamlining
The City of Novato and the Novato Chamber of Commerce recently completed a Permit Streamlining Report which explores ways the city can reduce paperwork for new and existing businesses. The report outlined a number of steps-including improving the clarity of city regulatory policies-that will encourage business investment in Novato.
Infrastructure
Because Novato is a relatively young city, its local infrastructure is in relatively superior shape compared with many of its neighbors. In addition, it shares the benefits of a wealth of transportation, communications, and R&D infrastructure with other Bay Area cities.
Transportation
Novato is located at the intersection of several freeways that link it to other cities in Marin, San Francisco, Santa Rosa, and the Interstate 80 Corridor from Oakland to Sacramento (Figure 17). The Golden Gate Bridge and Highway Transportation District operates regular ferries from Larkspur Landing (11 miles south of Novato) and Sausalito (17 miles south) to downtown San Francisco. Major airports are located in both San Francisco (43 miles) and Oakland (53 miles), and a growing commercial airport operates near Santa Rosa in Sonoma County. The ports of San Francisco and Oakland are located 28 and 37 miles, respectively, south and southeast of Novato. Commercial rail service exists from Novato to the North and East, but not to the south. Passenger rail service is being considered from Sonoma County through Novato south to Larkspur. The Golden Gate Bridge and Highway Transportation District also operates regular bus service to San Francisco, and a number of private bus and taxi services are available throughout the North Bay. The Appendix contains information on the North Bay's transportation infrastructure and various passenger and cargo transportation services.
Quality of Life in Novato
Novato possesses a number of advantages over many of its Bay Area neighbors in terms of the quality of life it offers its residents and businesses. These include:
- Moderate housing prices
- Low population density
- Open space and parks
- High discretionary income
- Quality education
- Low crime rates
- Cultural events and festivals
- Moderate Housing Prices
Novato's median housing price in late 1996 was just over $250,000, well below the Marin County average and slightly below the average for the nine-county Bay Are. This relatively low housing price, combined with Novato's household income levels, means that housing is more affordable in Novato than in many other Bay Area cities.
Housing Affordability Index
About 30 percent of Novato's residents can afford to purchase a median-priced home, compared with 24 percent in the county as a whole. Novato's affordability index is better than the Bay Area average, San Francisco, and San Mateo.
Rental Housing
Housing rental prices in Novato also are considerably lower than those in most other Marin County communities. Novato median apartment rental prices are 45 percent below those in Sausalito/Tiburon and up to 10 percent lower than prices in all other cities. Home rental prices in Novato ranged from $1150-$1750, for an average and median of about $1500. Novato median home prices are 38-57 percent below median prices in Mill Valley and San Rafael, respectively and are less than one-half the median price of similar homes in Sausalito and Tiburon.
Low Population Density and Open Space and Parks
Novato has a rural atmosphere largely because of its low population density and the high amount of open space and parks in and near the city. Novato's population density is about one-half that of San Rafael, and is nearly one-third that of Petaluma and Vallejo.
Novato's sphere of influence contains seven county-maintained open space preserves with more than 2,600 acres of open space-including 1,600 acres surrounding Mt. Burdell in Northern Novato. Including Olompali State Park, just north of Novato, the total is nearly 3,500 acres. The city itself is home to a total of 27 parks, including three major city parks. The North Marin Water District also maintains an open space preserve near Loma Verda.
Parks and Open Space In and Near Novato
Quality Education
Novato's public schools are among the best in the Bay Area, demonstrated by higher-than-average student assessment scores and higher-than-average spending per pupil.
Educational Attainment in the Bay Area and California
Novato Unified School District (NUSD) student performance is better than the average in many Bay Area schools, and it is close to the Marin County average. 1996 Novato SAT scores were 5 percent above the national average (Figure 24). This ranked above the state average and above results in San Francisco, Petaluma, and Vallejo.
Student performance in grades K-1014 in Novato also is high, although performance sometimes lags behind other Marin schools (Figure 25). For example, Olive Elementary in Novato ranked in the 62nd percentile in the last round of statewide testing. However, Novato's San Jose Middle School ranked more than 90 percent, ahead of Larkspur Hall Middle School. Novato High performance was generally good with 10th grade scores of more than 85 percent.
Low Crime Rates
Novato's crime rate is also much lower than the Bay Area average. In 1995, 4.5 crimes were committed per 1,000 Novato residents, about one-half the rate in San Francisco and Vallejo (Figure 27). Three cities have a lower crime rate than Novato: Milpitas, Petaluma, and San Mateo, although these rates are just slightly below Novato's.
Weather and Climate
Finally, Novato and the North Bay share a moderate climate with a high number of days of sunshine and moderate temperatures. Average afternoon temperatures are in the low-70s and average lows are in the mid-40s. Rainfall is typically concentrated between October and March and is rare in the summer.
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