Sonoma County, California Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Sonoma County is located in California with a total population of 485,642. It is the 17th most populous county out of 58 in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sonoma County is 42.7 years. This is 14% higher than the state median of 37.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Sonoma County is $102,840. This is 7% higher than the state median of $96,334. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 31% higher. The poverty rate stands at 8.6%. This is 28% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.2%. This is 19% lower than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $779,000. Housing costs are 12% higher than the state median of $695,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.6x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 62.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 55.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Sonoma County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 59.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 29.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (59.1% vs 34.6%). The Black or African American population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 5.3%. The Asian population (4.3%) is well below the state average of 15.0%.

Education

37.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 4% higher than the state rate of 36.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.9%.