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Living in
El Sobrante (Contra Costa County).
About
Life in El Sobrante (Contra Costa County)
El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County) is a community of 15,823 people in California. The median household income is $114,853, median rent runs about $2,216 per month, and median home values are around $758,800. The unemployment rate is 4.8%.
El Sobrante (Contra Costa County) at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
11.4%
Foreign-Born
31.1%
Broadband Internet
95.5%
of households
Population Growth
+14.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics31.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in El Sobrante (Contra Costa County): race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In El Sobrante (Contra Costa County), the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (21.6%), and 23.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.7%
of residents
65 and Older
18.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
16.2%
of households
Married Couples
48.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.90
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 9% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in El Sobrante (Contra Costa County)
In El Sobrante (Contra Costa County), rent runs 9% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
115.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,405
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
67.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1961
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.5%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts below CA average
Unemployment in El Sobrante (Contra Costa County)
Unemployment in Contra Costa County, which includes El Sobrante (Contra Costa County), is 0.7 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
El Sobrante (Contra Costa County): Contra Costa County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Contra Costa County (county-wide) · Annual averages
El Sobrante (Contra Costa County) is about 1% of Contra Costa County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What El Sobrante (Contra Costa County) Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute33.8 min avg
How El Sobrante (Contra Costa County) residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In El Sobrante (Contra Costa County), most residents drive alone to work (65%), and 45% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 18 mi
Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK)
Medium hub4.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 25 mi
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Major hub26.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 24% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office, which covers El Sobrante (Contra Costa County), runs 24% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
251.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
928.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Contra Costa County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Contra Costa County, which includes El Sobrante (Contra Costa County), the most common type is strong wind, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Flood | None reported |
| 2024 | 11 | Flood | $70 |
| 2023 | 9 | High Wind | Not estimated |
| 2022 | 12 | Strong Wind | $10 |
| 2021 | 12 | Strong Wind | Not estimated |
| 2020 | 18 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 32 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 16 | Flood | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
251 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Contra Costa County, county-wide
El Sobrante (Contra Costa County) is about 1% of Contra Costa County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality48 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2024)
Air quality in Contra Costa County, which includes El Sobrante (Contra Costa County), is typically good — 195 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
48
Good Days
195
per year
Moderate Days
168
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Contra Costa County, county-wide
El Sobrante (Contra Costa County) is about 1% of Contra Costa County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate72°F summers, 45°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
El Sobrante (Contra Costa County) has mild summers (avg high 72°F) and mild winters (avg low 45°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/50°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
72°/55°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
71°/53°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
59°/45°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
24.2"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
5
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
58
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°F | 44°F | 4.83" |
| Feb | 61°F | 46°F | 4.76" |
| Mar | 64°F | 47°F | 3.17" |
| Apr | 67°F | 49°F | 1.57" |
| May | 69°F | 52°F | 0.72" |
| Jun | 72°F | 54°F | 0.27" |
| Jul | 71°F | 55°F | 0.00" |
| Aug | 72°F | 56°F | 0.07" |
| Sep | 75°F | 56°F | 0.03" |
| Oct | 73°F | 54°F | 1.42" |
| Nov | 65°F | 49°F | 2.67" |
| Dec | 58°F | 44°F | 4.90" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in El Sobrante (Contra Costa County)
Uninsured
9.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside El Sobrante (Contra Costa County)'s limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Camp
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.4 mi away · Berkeley
Ucsf Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland
Childrens · ER available · 9.6 mi away · Oakland
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.6 mi away · Martinez
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education18.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in El Sobrante (Contra Costa County)
El Sobrante (Contra Costa County)'s student/teacher ratio is 18.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 36.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
2
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
36.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near El Sobrante (Contra Costa County) (within 15 miles)
University of California-Berkeley
7.4 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 33,068 students · in-state tuition $17,198 · 94% graduate · median earnings $100,212 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 15,358 students · in-state tuition $1,128 · 32% graduate · median earnings $56,684 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 6,842 students · in-state tuition $1,258 · 20% graduate · median earnings $42,812 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 5,203 students · in-state tuition $1,128 · 22% graduate · median earnings $45,857 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 4,487 students · in-state tuition $1,258 · 21% graduate · median earnings $47,627 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 4,456 students · in-state tuition $1,258 · 21% graduate · median earnings $48,574 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, 5 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for El Sobrante (Contra Costa County)
El Sobrante (Contra Costa County) has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park (5 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
5 mi awayJohn Muir National Historic Site
National Historic Site
9 mi awayAlcatraz Island
National Park Site
12 mi awaySan Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
13 mi awayFort Point National Historic Site
National Historic Site
15 mi awayPresidio of San Francisco
National Park Site
15 mi awayMuir Woods National Monument
National Monument
16 mi awayPort Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
National Memorial
16 mi awayPublic Libraries in El Sobrante (Contra Costa County)
El Sobrante Library
4191 Appian Way, El Sobrante
Cities Near El Sobrante (Contra Costa County)
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to El Sobrante (Contra Costa County)?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
El Sobrante (Contra Costa County) FAQ
Is El Sobrante (Contra Costa County), California affordable?⌄
El Sobrante (Contra Costa County)'s median rent is $2,216/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $114,853/year. Median home value is $758,800.
Is El Sobrante (Contra Costa County), California safe?⌄
El Sobrante (Contra Costa County) is policed by the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 252 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 929 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in El Sobrante (Contra Costa County), California?⌄
Contra Costa County, which includes El Sobrante (Contra Costa County), has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in El Sobrante (Contra Costa County), California?⌄
The cost of living in El Sobrante (Contra Costa County) is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,216/month and median household income is $114,853/year. The median home value is $758,800. About 54% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in El Sobrante (Contra Costa County), California?⌄
The average commute in El Sobrante (Contra Costa County) is 34 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from