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Sonoma County, California Demographics 2026

Sonoma County, California has a population of 485,040, the 17th most populous county in California. The median household income is $104,674 and the median home value is $815,500. The poverty rate is 8.9%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Sonoma County Quick Facts

Population 485,040
Median Household Income $104,674
Median Home Value $815,500
Poverty Rate 8.9%
Unemployment Rate 5.7%
Median Age 42.9 years
Homeownership Rate 62.6%
Affordability Ratio 7.8x
Bachelor's Degree+ 38.5%
High School Graduation 88.7%
Cities/Places 37
Population 485,040 17th of 58
Median Income $104,674 6% higher than state
Poverty Rate 8.9%
Unemployment 5.7%

How Sonoma County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population485,642485,040-0.1%
Median household income$102,840$104,674+1.8%
Median home value$779,000$815,500+4.7%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 10.1%
$25K-$50K 12.0%
$50K-$100K 25.5%
$100K+ 52.4%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.8%
$10K-$15K
2.4%
$15K-$20K
1.7%
$20K-$25K
2.2%
$25K-$30K
2.3%
$30K-$35K
2.1%
$35K-$40K
2.5%
$40K-$45K
2.6%
$45K-$50K
2.5%
$50K-$60K
5.5%
$60K-$75K
7.9%
$75K-$100K
12.1%
$100K-$125K
10.7%
$125K-$150K
8.2%
$150K-$200K
12.8%
$200K+
20.7%

Employment

5.7% Unemployment Rate State: 6.6%|National: 5.2%
64.0% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 62.6%
Renter 37.4%
Affordability Index Very Expensive
7.8x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $2,158/mo 24.7% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

57out of 100
High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 70 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Sonoma County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Santa Rosa177,090$99,0609.7%$713,900
Petaluma59,247$115,4306.5%$878,600
Rohnert Park44,575$99,27310.5%$666,300
Windsor26,081$133,9795.9%$801,100
Healdsburg11,243$103,55411.6%$950,100
Sonoma10,670$98,52710.4%$970,500
Cloverdale8,886$117,1774.1%$619,400
Larkfield-Wikiup8,765$97,0716.5%$704,700
Cotati7,489$110,7508.2%$746,800
Sebastopol7,445$87,6848.7%$845,700
Boyes Hot Springs7,247$101,28811.6%$783,300
Guerneville4,100$81,28110.0%$600,600
Forestville3,717$115,9627.4%$730,300
El Verano3,443$123,7383.1%$909,300
Fetters Hot Springs-Agua Caliente3,347$85,69425.2%$823,800
Sonoma State University2,210N/AN/AN/A
Penngrove2,119$107,1478.2%$1,196,000
Graton1,806$91,42924.3%$878,100
Temelec1,628$67,5825.5%$679,800
Eldridge1,379$121,9389.1%$766,800
Sea Ranch1,287$139,3753.0%$1,371,600
Occidental1,225$108,2077.0%$1,167,800
Bodega Bay1,139$182,8982.1%$1,294,900
Glen Ellen1,078$202,09726.0%$1,371,400
Kenwood1,028$99,5266.7%$881,900
Monte Rio876$63,75012.3%$652,000
Petaluma Center763$75,6820.0%N/A
Geyserville672$125,0938.6%$825,900
Cazadero483$96,8063.9%$520,000
Fulton453$183,1583.8%$760,100
Bloomfield324$142,4223.4%$1,294,800
Timber Cove199$110,9380.0%$986,100
Bodega134$90,6250.0%$1,230,800
Sereno del Mar101$78,2140.0%$1,071,400
Carmet85$93,8330.0%$1,475,000
Salmon Creek40N/A0.0%N/A
Jenner18N/A0.0%N/A

Explore California Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Sonoma County is located in California with a total population of 485,040. It is the 17th most populous county out of 58 in California. The county encompasses 37 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sonoma County is 42.9 years. This is 13% higher than the state median of 37.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Sonoma County is $104,674. This is 6% higher than the state median of $99,122. It is also 30% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.9%. This is 26% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.7%. This is 14% lower than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $815,500. Housing costs are 11% higher than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.8x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 62.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Sonoma County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 57.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 30.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (57.9% vs 33.8%). The Black or African American population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 5.2%. The Asian population (4.3%) is well below the state average of 15.3%.

Education

38.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 4% higher than the state rate of 37.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Sonoma County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against California and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Sonoma County, California?

Sonoma County has a population of 485,040, making it the 17th most populous county in California.

What is the median income in Sonoma County?

The median household income in Sonoma County is $104,674 with a poverty rate of 8.9%.

How many cities are in Sonoma County, California?

Sonoma County contains 37 Census-designated places.