B
20%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
35%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
17%
Property crime NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.
StatisticReportedincidents/100k peopleNovato/100k peopleCalifornia/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime976n/a (estimate)1,8622,8432,324
Murder2n/a3.85.76.3
Rape12n/a22.937.440.0
Robbery14n/a26.7123.566.1
Assault98n/a187.0332.8268.2
Violent crime126n/a (estimate)240500370
Burglary98n/a187.0371.9269.8
Theft556n/a1,060.81,499.31,401.9
Vehicle theft196n/a374.0471.9282.7
Property crime850n/a (estimate)1,6222,3431,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Novato, CA

The Novato crime rates are 19.9% lower than the national average. There are two main categories of crime - violent crime and property crime. Violent crime consists of murder, rape, robbery and assault, while property crimes include burglary, theft and vehicle theft. There were a total of 126 violent crimes in Novato (240 per 100,000 people), which is 35% lower than the national average and there were a total of 850 property crimes (1622 per 100,000 residents) which is 17% lower than average.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Novato?

What is the prevailing sentiment among Novato residents regarding the state of crime? A comprehensive survey conducted by AreaVibes, involving 25 respondents, sheds light on this matter. The results were as follows: 92% of Novato residents expressed a notable sense of security, asserting that crime was virtually non-existent in their community, and they felt at ease strolling the streets after dark. While, 8% of those surveyed held a contrasting viewpoint, perceiving a higher incidence of crime, leading them to feel apprehensive about walking alone at night.

Is Novato a Safe Place to Live?

Before you decide to relocate, it’s always good to ask yourself “Is Novato a safe place to live?” Although the answer might not be that simple, as some areas are safer than others, getting a good feel for the overall rate of crime can definitely be helpful. Overall, the Novato crime rate is 20% lower than the national average. If we break that down daily, that translates into 2.67 crimes per day - 0.35 violent crimes and 2.33 property crimes.

Has Crime in Novato Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime rates in Novato has decreased by 10.4% in the last reported crime report. Comparing crime rates from one year to another offers some insight into whether or not Novato is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live. Crime rates are categorized by violent and property crime. Year-over-year violent crime has decreased by 47.1%, while property crime has decreased by 0.1%. This analysis equips individuals with crucial information for making informed decisions about living in Novato.

Potential Causes for Crime in Novato

Novato has a population density of 1957.5 people per square mile, while with the national average is 90.6 people per square mile. Cities characterized by high population density are frequently larger urban centers offering diverse economic prospects. Within these areas, income inequality may be accentuated, resulting in the coexistence of poverty and affluence. Such economic disparities can contribute to elevated property crimes and on occasion, violent crimes. Conversely, areas with low population density generally record lower Novato crime rates.

High cost of living can lead to economic stress for individuals and families, particularly those with limited financial resources. When people struggle to make ends meet due to high housing costs, healthcare expenses, or other basic necessities, they may be more inclined to engage in criminal activities, such as theft or fraud, as a means of financial survival. On the flipside, cities that have a lower cost of living, could see a reduced crime rate. In Novato, the cost of living is 77.97% higher than the national average.

Law enforcement and community policing efforts can play a pivotal role in shaping crime rates. Establishing a robust and cooperative partnership between the police and the community can act as a deterrent to criminal behavior and enhance overall safety. In Novato, the ratio of police officers and civilians per 1,000 residents differs from the national average, with 1.36 officers and civilians per 1,000 residents compared to 3.25 nationally. Effective law enforcement often hinges on community policing strategies that prioritize the cultivation of trust and collaboration between law enforcement and the community. It's not solely about the quantity of officers but also the quality of their engagement with the community.

Novato crime map



The Novato crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Novato as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The Novato crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Novato crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.
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Compare Novato, CA Crime

      vs

      Crime Quick Facts

      • Novato crime rates are 20% lower than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Novato are 35% lower than the national average
      • In Novato you have a 1 in 54 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Novato is safer than 44% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Novato has decreased by 4%

      Novato, CA Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around Novato

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        Daily Crime In Novato (per 100,000 people)

        The number of daily crimes per 100,000 residents in Novato, California is displayed in the graph above. As you can see, the daily crimes for Novato are 1.53 times less than the California average and 1.25 times less than the national level. Daily violent crimes in Novato are 2.08 times less than than California and 1.54 times less than the national mean. While daily property crimes in Novato are 1.44 times less than than California and 1.21 times less than the national average.

        How Safe is Novato (higher is better)

        Are people any safer living in Novato in comparison to other California communities and all other areas throughout the United States? When we look at all cities across America, is Novato safe? The evidence provided by these graphs show Novato being safer than 73% of cities in California and 44% of cities across the United States. This is evident by tracking California cities as well as all US cities over a one year period to contrast crime statistics as they relate to Novato. In conclusion, Novato ranks below average compared to the rest of the United States.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Novato

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Novato is 1 in 416
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Novato is 1 in 62
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Novato is 1 in 54
        Interested in knowing the odds that you will be a crime victim in Novato? In Novato, you have a 1 in 416 chance of falling victim to a violent crime, such as rape, robbery, assault, or even murder. In terms of property crime, your chances of being a victim are 1 in 62. These crimes include theft, vehicle theft, and burglary. Your overall chance of being a victim of crime in Novato, CA is 1 in 54.

        Year Over Year Crime In Novato (per 100,000 people)

        A good indicator of whether Novato is becoming a safer or a more dangerous place to live can be determined by analyzing the year over year crime rate (per 100,000 people). The number of violent crimes in Novato has decreased by 44%, while the property crime rate in Novato has increased by 7% year over year. The number of total crimes in Novato has decreased by 4% year over year.

        Novato police department

        Item Novato California National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)7251,506558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents1.43.63.3
        There are a total of 72 Novato police officers. This results in 1.4 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 62.4% less than the California average and 58.2% less than the National average.

        Sex offenders in California

        State Total offenders California /100K National /100K
        California79,891232266
        There are a total of 79,891 sex offenders in California. This yields a total of 232 sex offenders in California per 100,000 residents which is 13% less than the national average.

        Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Woodacre, CA1,46470329399
        Black Point-Green Point, CA1,73870329399
        Bolinas, CA1,22370329399
        Temelec, CA1,91575349424
        Sleepy Hollow, CA2,36678368446
        Penngrove, CA2,36878368446
        Lagunitas-Forest Knolls, CA1,87491428520
        Novato, CA53,7812401,6221,862

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Minnetonka, MN53,760901,7361,826
        Leesburg, VA53,7313001,4111,711
        Apple Valley, MN53,7282431,6361,879
        Aloha, OR53,7244193,6004,019
        Elyria, OH53,8441981,9042,102
        Novato, CA53,7812401,6221,862
        Source: The Novato, CA crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.