Population 34,105 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Sonoma
Household size in Sonoma
| Period | Sonoma | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.41 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.56 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.43 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.41 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
The average household in Sonoma has 2.41 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the north. Sonoma has smaller households than at least four in five California cities.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Sonoma
| Period | Sonoma | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.1 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.3 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.9 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 51.4 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.4 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Sonoma skews older: half of its residents are older than 51.4, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 45.1, mirroring the country. Only 34 of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Sonoma
| Period | Sonoma | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.2% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.3% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.9% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.9% of households in Sonoma, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 2.4 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Sonoma
Renters in Sonoma
| Period | Sonoma | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.8% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 40.4% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.6% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 33.0% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Sonoma is about as common as it is nationally: 33.0% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in California as a whole (44.1%). Among homeowners, 37.5% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 4.8 points, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Sonoma
| Period | Sonoma | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.1% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.1% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.9% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs high in Sonoma: 12.9% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged up 0.9 points, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Sonoma
| Period | Sonoma | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1975 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1974 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1976 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1976 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +0 | +4 | +6 |
Housing in Sonoma leans a little older: the median home dates to 1976, against 1980 nationally. California as a whole looks much the same. The newest homes are mostly in the south, the oldest in the east.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Sonoma
| Period | Sonoma | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,351 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,310 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,736 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,230 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$880 | +$931 | +$606 |
Rent in Sonoma runs $2,230 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $880 a month from 2006–10, a 65% jump, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 32.6% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the southwest and lowest in the center.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Sonoma
Bachelor's degrees in Sonoma
| Period | Sonoma | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 34.8% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.2% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 40.0% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
About four in ten adults 25 and older in Sonoma (40.0%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a bit above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 4.4 points, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the northwest.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Sonoma
| Period | Sonoma | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.1% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.2% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.8% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.3% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just as many adults in Sonoma have finished high school as nationally: 89.3%. The rate is higher than in California overall (84.2%). Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.1 points, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Sonoma
| Period | Sonoma | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.3% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.2% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.1% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.7% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been harder to find in Sonoma than nationally: unemployment was 6.7%, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged down 0.5 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Sonoma compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonoma | 2.41 | 51.4 | 7.9% | 33.0% | 12.9% | 1976 | $2,230 | 40.0% | 89.3% | 6.7% |
| Eldridge | 2.31 | 49.5 | 4.6% | 26.3% | 12.7% | 1974 | $2,189 | 40.2% | 92.2% | 10.2% |
| El Verano | 2.58 | 60.6 | 2.0% | 8.4% | 22.9% | 1973 | $3,114 | 48.5% | 93.1% | 3.5% |
| Schellville | 1.97 | 47.8 | 14.0% | 37.2% | 23.7% | 1959 | $2,822 | 39.4% | 90.8% | 16.3% |
| Glen Ellen | 2.12 | 57.7 | 4.3% | 28.0% | 11.6% | 1967 | $1,747 | 62.6% | 96.1% | 5.7% |
| Oakville | 1.96 | 67.1 | 4.1% | 24.8% | 19.5% | 1979 | $2,527 | 30.3% | 81.8% | 11.7% |
| Salvador | 2.80 | 39.9 | 4.4% | 32.5% | 34.2% | 1969 | $2,130 | 33.9% | 68.4% | 1.5% |
| Petaluma | 2.49 | 46.5 | 7.4% | 35.9% | 5.3% | 1978 | $2,480 | 42.8% | 91.5% | 4.9% |
| Napa | 2.65 | 43.2 | 9.5% | 38.7% | 8.8% | 1973 | $2,503 | 38.7% | 84.0% | 5.2% |
| Yountville | 1.85 | 62.4 | 2.2% | 30.0% | 20.5% | 1985 | $2,467 | 41.7% | 85.8% | 7.5% |
| Penngrove | 2.46 | 46.4 | 4.0% | 22.0% | 6.6% | 1981 | $1,874 | 49.2% | 95.3% | 6.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Williston, ND · Ambler, PA · Tifton, GA · Watertown, NY · Waycross, GA · West Chicago, IL · West Falls Church, VA · West Odessa, TX · Derry, NH · Westmont, CA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Sonoma. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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