Novato, CA · standard
ZIP Code 94949
Marin County, California - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 17,202
- 447/sq mi High-density area
- $120,758
- Median income Above-median income area
- $1,150,500
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 50.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Novato pairs a top-decile household income with top-decile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 9%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 2%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 447
- people per sq mi
- 63%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 94949 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 94949 (Novato, CA) rose +7.9% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 231.3 in 2023 to 249.6 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 94949 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Novato, Marin County, California, home to 17,202 residents across 38.5 square miles, a density of 447 people per square mile, in the Los Angeles time zone.
ZIP 94949 skews affluent, with a median household income of $120,758 (19% above the average California ZIP), while per-capita income is $72,931. The poverty rate is 10.4%, with unemployment at 5.5%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $1,150,500 (49% above the average California ZIP), while 63.1% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $2,760.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 50.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 47.5, and the average commute is 29 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Marin County, so 94949 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 94949
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Novato, CA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 94949.
- Construction
Construction
110 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
91 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
54 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
46 establishments
- Retail trade 42
Retail trade
42 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 94949, Novato, CA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
17,202
Population
38.5
Area (sq mi)
447
People / sq mi
Los Angeles
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 94949?
47.5
Median Age
51.6%
Male
48.4%
Female
23.7%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$120,758
Median Household Income
+19% vs state ZIP avg
$72,931
Per Capita Income
10.4%
Poverty Rate
5.5%
Unemployment Rate
29.1 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 94949 ranks among California ZIPs
Novato, CA household income vs. every California ZIP code
Median household income among 1,583 reporting California ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$120,758 Top 27% higher than 73% of 1,583 California ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more California ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
7,359housing units
7,359
Total Housing Units
6,955
Occupied Units
404
Vacant Units
2.53
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$1,150,500
Median Home Value
+49% vs state ZIP avg
$2,760
Median Rent
1980
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+7.9%
YoY Change (2024)
250
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+150%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 94949 have increased 7.9% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +150% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -1.8% | 198 |
| 2021 | +3.5% | 205 |
| 2022 | +22.6% | 251 |
| 2023 | -7.8% | 231 |
| 2024 | +7.9% | 250 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 614 business establishments in ZIP 94949, employing approximately 10,558 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,299,366,000.
614
Businesses
10,558
Employees
$1.3B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 110 | 17.9% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 91 | 14.8% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 54 | 8.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 46 | 7.5% |
| Retail trade | 42 | 6.8% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 39 | 6.3% |
| Finance and insurance | 38 | 6.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 36 | 5.9% |
| Wholesale trade | 33 | 5.4% |
| Manufacturing | 30 | 4.9% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 27 | 4.4% |
| Information | 21 | 3.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 15 | 2.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 12 | 1.9% |
| Educational services | 12 | 1.9% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 6 | 1.0% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 94949 vs 94903 →
ZIP 94949 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 94901
San Rafael (94901)
41,157 residents
- 94903
San Rafael (94903)
29,040 residents
- 94947
Novato (94947)
24,283 residents
- 94949
Novato (94949)
17,202 residents
- 94945
Novato (94945)
17,167 residents
- 94960 15,740
San Anselmo (94960)
15,740 residents
- 94904 11,995
Greenbrae (94904)
11,995 residents
- 94925 9,253
Corte Madera (94925)
9,253 residents
- 94939 6,859
Larkspur (94939)
6,859 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 94949 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 94949 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 94957
Ross (94957)
$250,000 median income
- 94925
Corte Madera (94925)
$232,763 median income
- 94973
Woodacre (94973)
$231,094 median income
- 94939
Larkspur (94939)
$203,988 median income
- 94960
San Anselmo (94960)
$185,170 median income
- 94904
Greenbrae (94904)
$169,118 median income
- 94903
San Rafael (94903)
$142,083 median income
- 94947
Novato (94947)
$128,766 median income
- 94949
Novato (94949)
$120,758 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 94949 ranks #9 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 94903 | San Rafael, CA | 29,040 | 2.9 mi |
| 94945 | Novato, CA | 17,167 | 4.5 mi |
| 94960 | San Anselmo, CA | 15,740 | 5.3 mi |
| 94901 | San Rafael, CA | 41,157 | 6.2 mi |
| 94957 | Ross, CA | 1,332 | 7.2 mi |
| 94939 | Larkspur, CA | 6,859 | 8.9 mi |
| 94947 | Novato, CA | 24,283 | 6.0 mi |
| 94904 | Greenbrae, CA | 11,995 | 8.4 mi |
| 94973 | Woodacre, CA | 1,429 | 6.6 mi |
| 94925 | Corte Madera, CA | 9,253 | 9.9 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 94949, both outside CA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (17,202 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Marin County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 94949 in?
ZIP code 94949 (Novato) is located in Marin County, California. Marin County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/marin-ca.
What is the population of ZIP code 94949?
ZIP code 94949 in Novato, CA has a population of 17,202 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 94949?
The median household income in ZIP 94949 is $120,758, which is 58% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 94949?
The median home value in ZIP 94949 is $1,150,500, which is 314% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 94949?
The largest racial group in ZIP 94949 is White at 56.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 29.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 94949?
ZIP code 94949 has 614 business establishments employing approximately 10,558 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 94949?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 94949 are: Construction (110), Professional, scientific, and technical services (91), Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services (54). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 94949?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 94949 increased by 7.9% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 150%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 94949?
In ZIP code 94949, 64.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 50.7% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 94949?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 94949 is 29.1 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 94949?
In ZIP code 94949, approximately 63.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 36.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 94949?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 94949 is 10.4% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 94949's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 94949 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Novato, CA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.