What it's like to live in Rohnert Park
Rohnert Park is a small city in California with household incomes running above the national average and air quality that stays clean most of the year. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Rohnert Park deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, larger class sizes than the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Clean air
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Rohnert Park compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Rohnert Park
Based on Rohnert Park's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,558
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $91,160 a year
- 54% of Rohnert Park renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$133,260
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $66,630
- Homes cost 6.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 61% above US
$2,279/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,279 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $666,300. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $666,300 · 54% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.3% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.3%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 24% below US
251 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1049/100k · Rohnert Park Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
27 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 26.7 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 82°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 39°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 15% below US
31% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 31% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
14 public schools inside the boundary
There are 14 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Point Reyes National Seashore (23 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Rohnert Park's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and air quality that stays clean most of the year; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($2,279/mo) equals 28% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Rohnert Park
All California guides →Moving to Santa Rosa →
7 mi away · pop. 177,090
Rent $2,152/mo · Income $99,060
Compare with Rohnert Park →Moving to Petaluma →
8 mi away · pop. 59,247
Rent $2,440/mo · Income $115,430
Compare with Rohnert Park →Moving to Sonoma →
13 mi away · pop. 10,670
Rent $2,226/mo · Income $98,527
Compare with Rohnert Park →Moving to Windsor →
15 mi away · pop. 26,081
Rent $2,433/mo · Income $133,979
Compare with Rohnert Park →Not sure Rohnert Park is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.