What is the crime rate in Novato, CA?

In 2025, the Novato Police Department reported 110 violent crimes and 698 property crimes to the FBI.

That is 211 violent and 1,340 property crimes per 100,000 of the 52,105 residents it serves.

Across California the rates were 435 and 1,822.

Nationally they were 330 and 1,552.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Violent per 100,000: 211
Property per 100,000: 1,340
Violent crimes: 110
Property crimes: 698

Crime reported by the Novato Police Department, 2023 to 2025

Offenses known to law enforcement, reported to the FBI; rates per 100,000 residents of the area the department serves
Year	Violent crimes	Violent per 100,000	Property crimes	Property per 100,000	Residents served
2023	170	329	895	1,730	51,733
2024	133	259	730	1,424	51,258
2025	110	211	698	1,340	52,105

Violent crimes reported went from 170 in 2023 to 110 in 2025.

Property crimes reported went from 895 in 2023 to 698 in 2025.

In a small town a handful of incidents moves these numbers a long way, so one year’s change says little on its own.

Novato against California and the nation

Crimes per 100,000 residents, 2025
	Violent crime	Property crime
Novato	211	1,340
Marin County	181	1,230
California	435	1,822
United States	330	1,552

These are rates per resident; they are not adjusted for visitors, commuters or the size of the area, which raise or lower a town’s figures without changing anybody’s risk.

Crime reported in places near Novato, 2025

Each place’s own police department; rates per 100,000 residents served
Place	Distance	Violent per 100,000	Property per 100,000
Novato	—	211	1,340
Fairfax	7.1 mi	81	725
San Rafael	7.5 mi	365	2,043
Ross	8.4 mi	44	1,092
Petaluma	12 mi	228	1,202
Mill Valley	12 mi	51	795

Neighboring departments count the same offenses the same way, but their areas, populations and visitors differ, so a difference between two towns is a starting point for a question, not an answer.

How to read these numbers

These are offenses known to the police and reported to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program: crimes nobody reported, or that a department did not record, are not in them.

Violent crime is murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, rape, robbery and aggravated assault; property crime is burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft and arson.

A department reports the crimes in the area it polices, which can differ from the town’s boundaries, and the FBI estimates the population it serves.

The FBI asks that these figures not be used to rank places or to judge how safe a neighborhood is: crime depends on many local factors, and the counts describe a whole town, not any street or home.

A year is shown only when the department reported all twelve months.

FBI: Uniform Crime Reporting statistics and their proper use

What you can do on Seayora in Novato

One account for renting, owning, managing and fixing homes, with these figures beside you.

Looking for a place to rent?

Browse homes for rent near Novato, save the ones you like and apply online.

Browse rentals · Create a renter account

Own or manage a rental?

List it, sign the lease and collect rent online, with the figures for Novato beside you.

Create a landlord account · See what landlords get

Do repairs, renovations or maintenance?

Get found by owners and renters near Novato, and send estimates and invoices from your phone.

Join as a pro · Find a pro

Questions about Novato