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Living in
Sonoma.
About
Life in Sonoma
Sonoma is a community of 10,726 people in California. The median household income is $98,527, median rent runs about $2,216 per month, and median home values are around $970,500. The unemployment rate is 4.4%.
Sonoma at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
57.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.4%
Foreign-Born
11.2%
Broadband Internet
95.3%
of households
Population Growth
-1.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics11.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Sonoma: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Sonoma, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (22.9%), and 8.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
14.1%
of residents
65 and Older
34.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
16.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
40.0%
of households
Married Couples
37.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
1.97
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 Sonoma
In Sonoma, rent runs 9% above the CA average, and home values are 32% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
61.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
107.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,930
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
65.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1977
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $920,593 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.1 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Sonoma
Unemployment in Sonoma County, which includes Sonoma, is 1.1 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Sonoma: Sonoma County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Sonoma County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Sonoma is about 2% of Sonoma County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Sonoma Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute25.4 min avg
How Sonoma residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Sonoma, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 64% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 24 mi
Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport (STS)
Regional airport · few flights387k passengers boarded in 2025
- 41 mi
Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK)
Medium hub4.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 47 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 63% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Sonoma runs 63% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
122.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
898.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Sonoma Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
99.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Sonoma County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Sonoma County, which includes Sonoma, the most common type is strong wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Flood | $30 |
| 2024 | 21 | Flood | $120 |
| 2023 | 15 | High Wind | $10 |
| 2022 | 9 | Strong Wind | Not estimated |
| 2021 | 22 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 21 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 53 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 24 | 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.
228 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Sonoma County, county-wide
Sonoma is about 2% of Sonoma County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality9 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Sonoma County, which includes Sonoma, is typically good — 365 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
9
Good Days
365
per year
Moderate Days
0
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Sonoma County, county-wide
Sonoma is about 2% of Sonoma County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate85°F summers, 39°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Sonoma has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and mild winters (avg low 39°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
70°/45°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/53°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
76°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
58°/39°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
28.4"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
44
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
21
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
68
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57°F | 38°F | 5.47" |
| Feb | 62°F | 40°F | 5.42" |
| Mar | 65°F | 42°F | 3.84" |
| Apr | 69°F | 44°F | 1.78" |
| May | 75°F | 48°F | 1.03" |
| Jun | 83°F | 51°F | 0.32" |
| Jul | 86°F | 54°F | 0.00" |
| Aug | 86°F | 53°F | 0.06" |
| Sep | 85°F | 51°F | 0.07" |
| Oct | 78°F | 47°F | 1.52" |
| Nov | 65°F | 42°F | 3.01" |
| Dec | 57°F | 38°F | 5.83" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Sonoma
Sonoma has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
2.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Sonoma Valley Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.2 mi away · Napa
Petaluma Valley Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 9.7 mi away · Petaluma
Dept of State Hospitals - Napa
Psychiatric · 10.3 mi away · Napa
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.
Education19.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Sonoma
Sonoma's student/teacher ratio is 19.3:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 51.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
51.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Sonoma (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 3,813 students · in-state tuition $1,156 · 30% graduate · median earnings $55,399 (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, 27 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Sonoma
Sonoma has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park (27 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
27 mi awayJohn Muir National Historic Site
National Historic Site
28 mi awayMuir Woods National Monument
National Monument
28 mi awayPoint Reyes National Seashore
National Seashore
28 mi awayPort Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
National Memorial
28 mi awayGolden Gate National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
31 mi awayAlcatraz Island
National Park Site
32 mi awayFort Point National Historic Site
National Historic Site
33 mi awayPublic Libraries in Sonoma
Sonoma Valley Regional Library
755 West Napa Street, Sonoma
Cities Near Sonoma
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Sonoma?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Sonoma FAQ
Is Sonoma, California affordable?⌄
Sonoma's median rent is $2,226/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $98,527/year. Median home value is $970,500.
Is Sonoma, California safe?⌄
Sonoma's violent crime rate was 123 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 898 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Sonoma, California?⌄
Sonoma County, which includes Sonoma, has an unemployment rate of 4.4%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Sonoma, California?⌄
The cost of living in Sonoma is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,226/month and median household income is $98,527/year. The median home value is $970,500. About 62% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Sonoma, California?⌄
The average commute in Sonoma is 25 minutes, which is about 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