County
Sonoma County
- B+Overall Grade
- County in California
- 44 reviews
- Public SchoolsA
- HousingD-
- NightlifeA-
- Good for FamiliesB+
- DiversityA-
- JobsB-
- WeatherA
- Cost of LivingD-
- Health & FitnessA+
- Outdoor ActivitiesA
- CommuteB+
Real Estate
Median Home Value
$568,700
National
$184,700Median Rent
$1,549
National
$949Sponsored Mortgage Options for Sonoma County
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Sonoma County Rankings
Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.
Crime & Safety
Residents
Working in Sonoma County
Jobs
B-
Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
Median Household Income
$76,753
National
$55,322Top Places to Live in Sonoma County
Sonoma County Reviews
44 reviews
All Categories
Sonoma County is Rich in Culture and History – The Pomo, Coast Miwok and Wappo peoples were the earliest human settlers. Followed by the Spanish & Mexicans, The Mission Solano was the last California Missions. Historical Sites; Including Jack London’s Ranch, Luther Burbank's Gardens, Charles Schultz's Snoopy Ice Arena. We have a Petrified Forest, Natural Geysers, Sky High Redwoods and Beautiful Coastlines. Dozens of Movies have been filmed here Including: American Graffiti , Hitchcock’s The Birds & Shadow of a Doubt, Stephen Kings Cujo, Peggy Sue got Married, Bedtime Stories with Adam Sandler, Holiday Inn with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, Disney’s Pollyanna. We also have Over 400 Wineries to visit and taste! We have a Rich Hispanic Culture woven throughout our county, from Farmworkers to Businesses Owners to Politicians. We also have one of the finest and affordable college campuses in the United States - Santa Rosa Junior College.
Sonoma County is such a wonderful place to grow up or visit. It is filled with all kinds of people with different backgrounds and has an amazing cultural blend of restaurants, shopping, and events. The agricultural scene is also one of a kind due to the different types of farmer's markets, craft fairs, and festivals that allow people to easily explore what the county has to offer. The unique variation of housing areas is also another great quality. The people within Sonoma County and the community bond we all have is another great attribute. During and after the 2017 fires, the people within the community gathered together to help those affected. The love between everyone in the area is strong, and what sets us apart from other counties. One thing worth changing is that there are not many great shopping areas for well-known clothing stores typically found in malls. Other than that, Sonoma County is a wonderful example of a great blend of people, cultures, experiences, and adventures.
I loved going to school here in Sonoma County as there was always so many different things to do surrounding it. A 45 minute drive out west will bring you right out onto the Bodega Bay coastline, down south will bring you to the famous city of San Francisco, and east will bring you to also famous Napa County. It is an extremely safe, quiet and fun place to live in, especially since all the central cities (Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Petaluma) are all very close by to each other, which makes it easier for a trip depending on what you may need to go out for. Our freeways only have two lanes and a carpool lane, which shows that traffic isn't the worst down here either. I also love the weather as we get to experience the best out of each season: summers can get up to the 90s a good amount of the time, springs are generally partially sunny and sometimes rainy, fall is sunny but cooler, and winter we get the gloomy clouds, the rain, and the rare thunderstorms. I love Sonoma County!