Sonora, California Demographics & Population 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Sonora, California had a total population of 4,919, the 665th largest city in California, with a median household income of $82,690, which is 17% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 16.9%.
Key Takeaways
- Unemployment rate of 12.4% is notably above the national average.
Sonora Quick Facts
How Sonora Changed
Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.
| Metric | 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,844 | 4,919 | +1.5% |
| Median household income | $52,239 | $82,690 | +58.3% |
| Median home value¹ | $336,476 | $422,300 | +25.5% |
| Median gross rent | $1,092 | $1,238 | No clear change (+13.4%) |
How Sonora Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
- White: 82.7%
- Black: 0.4%
- Hispanic: 8.0%
- Asian: 2.7%
- Other: 0.7%
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 70 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
- < High School: 5.0%
- HS Diploma: 22.7%
- Some College: 28.6%
- Associate's: 10.5%
- Bachelor's: 19.5%
- Graduate+: 13.7%
Sonora Rankings in California
Explore California Rankings
Other Cities in Tuolumne County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Lake | 4,794 | $103,125 | 4.8% | $488,500 |
| Mono Vista | 3,675 | $85,769 | 7.0% | $427,800 |
| Jamestown | 3,265 | $57,276 | 6.1% | $374,600 |
| East Sonora | 2,651 | $77,574 | 11.6% | $335,100 |
| Pine Mountain Lake | 2,498 | $79,387 | 5.6% | $426,500 |
| Twain Harte | 2,372 | $88,739 | 9.7% | $462,700 |
| Columbia | 2,235 | $58,520 | 15.6% | $376,200 |
| Soulsbyville | 2,101 | $96,865 | 3.2% | $419,800 |
| Cedar Ridge | 1,671 | $82,308 | 7.9% | $407,000 |
| Tuolumne City | 1,148 | $57,313 | 7.5% | $431,200 |
Cities Similar to Sonora
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Running Springs | 4,917 | $81,516 | $385,000 | 30.6% | 15.5% |
| Lake Wildwood | 4,792 | $85,771 | $551,800 | 45.7% | 8.2% |
| Greenacres | 4,906 | $91,528 | $351,800 | 18.2% | 4.1% |
| Calistoga | 5,111 | $85,446 | N/A | 32.5% | 5.6% |
| Big Bear Lake | 5,041 | $76,250 | $576,700 | 33.9% | 6.2% |
Population Overview
Sonora is a small community located in California, within Tuolumne County. The total population is 4,919. It ranks as the 665th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.
Age Demographics
The median age in Sonora is 42.1 years. This is 11% higher than the state median of 37.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Sonora is $82,690. This is 17% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 2% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.9%. This is 41% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 12.4%. This is 87% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $422,300. Housing costs are 43% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.1x. 42.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 23% lower than the state average of 55.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Sonora is White (non-Hispanic), making up 82.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 8.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (82.7% vs 33.8%). The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 5.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (8.0%) is well below the state average of 40.2%. The Asian population (2.7%) is well below the state average of 15.3%.
Education
33.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 10% lower 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 95.0%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Sonora, California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,570 Census-designated places in California. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Sonora, California?
Sonora, California has a population of 4,919 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Sonora, CA?
The median household income in Sonora is $82,690, which is 2% higher than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Sonora, CA?
The poverty rate in Sonora is 16.9%. This means approximately 801 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Sonora, California?
Sonora's population is 82.7% White, 0.4% Black, 8.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 2.7% Asian.
What is the median home value in Sonora, CA?
The median home value in Sonora is $422,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.1x.
How educated is Sonora, California?
33.2% of adults (25+) in Sonora hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 13.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.