Population 485,040 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Sonoma County
Household size in Sonoma County
| Period | Sonoma County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.60 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.66 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.68 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.57 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Sonoma County run a little small, averaging 2.57 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Households are largest in the center and smallest in the east.
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 County
| Period | Sonoma County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.0 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.3 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.0 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.1 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.1 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Sonoma County skews older than the country: its median age is 44.1, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 40.0 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the south and oldest in the west.
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 County
| Period | Sonoma County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.7% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.4% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.7% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in Sonoma County (10.7%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Single parents are less common here than in California as a whole (12.3%).
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 County
Renters in Sonoma County
| Period | Sonoma County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.6% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 40.4% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.5% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 37.4% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly four in ten households in Sonoma County rent their homes (37.4%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in California overall (44.1%). Among homeowners, 33.2% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the west.
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 County
| Period | Sonoma County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.2% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.4% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.7% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Sonoma County: 7.7% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. That is in line with the rest of California. Vacancy has edged down 1.5 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 County
| Period | Sonoma County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1976 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1978 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1980 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Sonoma County are the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1980. The median year built has moved up from 1976 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the west.
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 County
| Period | Sonoma County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,328 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,415 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,734 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,280 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$952 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Sonoma County costs $2,280 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $952 a month from 2006–10, a 72% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 33.0% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the west; the highest are in the north.
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 County
Bachelor's degrees in Sonoma County
| Period | Sonoma County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.2% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 31.6% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.7% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 37.7% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.5 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Sonoma County as nationally: 37.7% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 7.5 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the center.
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 County
| Period | Sonoma County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.7% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.3% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.5% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.2% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Sonoma County is close to the national rate: 88.2% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is higher than in California overall (84.2%). The share with a diploma has risen 2.5 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 County
| Period | Sonoma County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.3% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.7% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Sonoma County is close to the national rate: 5.7% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is lower than in California as a whole (6.6%). Unemployment is down 2.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonoma County | 2.57 | 44.1 | 10.7% | 37.4% | 7.7% | 1980 | $2,280 | 37.7% | 88.2% | 5.7% |
| Napa County | 2.76 | 44.0 | 9.5% | 36.6% | 9.8% | 1976 | $2,427 | 38.9% | 84.5% | 5.1% |
| Yolo County | 2.81 | 34.7 | 9.8% | 45.7% | 8.1% | 1985 | $1,943 | 46.8% | 89.0% | 6.1% |
| Sacramento County | 2.89 | 38.4 | 12.3% | 41.0% | 5.6% | 1982 | $1,960 | 34.1% | 88.0% | 6.7% |
| Amador County | 2.40 | 49.0 | 7.7% | 19.6% | 14.7% | 1985 | $1,479 | 22.7% | 90.7% | 6.2% |
| Wayne County | 2.22 | 47.0 | 6.5% | 20.7% | 33.1% | 1985 | $886 | 27.7% | 96.5% | 2.0% |
| Grand County | 2.14 | 40.0 | 11.1% | 29.7% | 15.6% | 1986 | $1,246 | 37.6% | 94.6% | 1.6% |
| Montrose County | 2.44 | 46.0 | 10.0% | 24.6% | 8.5% | 1989 | $1,353 | 28.1% | 90.6% | 4.0% |
| Fremont County | 2.37 | 46.7 | 9.6% | 24.4% | 12.5% | 1979 | $1,133 | 25.7% | 92.1% | 4.5% |
| Kiowa County | 2.29 | 48.4 | 5.5% | 31.3% | 21.3% | 1963 | $830 | 19.4% | 92.4% | 0.2% |
| Greeley County | 2.38 | 37.0 | 16.9% | 25.0% | 17.5% | 1965 | $865 | 30.6% | 89.3% | 0.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Spokane County, WA · Greenville County, SC · Guilford County, NC · Hampden County, MA · Hillsborough County, NH · Jefferson County, CO · Ramsey County, MN · Richmond County, NY · Santa Barbara County, CA · Solano County, 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 County. 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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