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Sonoma County

#18 in Best Counties to Live in California
  • B
    Overall Grade
  • County in California
  • 34 reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Public Schools
    B+
  2. Crime & Safety
    C+
  3. Housing
    D-
  4. Nightlife
    A-
  5. Good for Families
    B-
  6. Diversity
    A
  7. Jobs
    B-
  8. Weather
    A
  9. Cost of Living
    D-
  10. Health & Fitness
    A+
  11. Outdoor Activities
    A
  12. Commute
    B+
View Full Report Card
Sonoma County is located in California with a population of 500,943. Living in Sonoma County offers residents a suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Sonoma County there are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many young professionals live in Sonoma County and residents tend to be liberal. The public schools in Sonoma County are above average.
Population
500,943

Real Estate

Median Home Value
$513,300
National
$184,700
Median Rent
$1,456
National
$949
Area Feel
Suburban
Rent vs. Own
  • Rent
    40%
  • Own
    60%
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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

Crime & Safety
C+
Based on violent and property crime rates.
Violent Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Assault
    266.5
    282.7
  • Murder
    1.7
    6.1
  • Rape
    59.7
    40.7
  • Robbery
    60.8
    135.5
Property Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Burglary
    281.4
    500.1
  • Theft
    1,240.6
    2,042.8
  • Motor Vehicle Theft
    189.3
    284
Home Security Options for Sonoma County
Learn More
  • 24/7 Whole home protection with no contract
  • CNET Editor’s choice winner 2018

Residents

Diversity
A
Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
Age
  • <10 years
    11%
  • 10-17 years
    9%
  • 18-24 years
    9%
  • 25-34 years
    13%
  • 35-44 years
    12%
  • 45-54 years
    14%
  • 55-64 years
    15%
  • 65+ years
    17%
Education Levels
National
  • Master's degree or higher
    12%
    12%
  • Bachelor's degree
    22%
    19%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    35%
    29%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    19%
    28%
  • Less than high school diploma
    12%
    13%

Working in Sonoma County

Jobs
B-
Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
Median Household Income
$71,769
National
$55,322
Search for Jobs in Sonoma County
  • Public Schools
  • Private Schools
  • Colleges

    Sonoma County Reviews

    34 reviews
    All Categories
    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!
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    I've lived outside of Healdsburg in Alexander Valley for 12 years. It's a gorgeous area--I can bicycle, hike or jog around without getting in my car. But transportation is necessary to live here. Homes are expensive, although it is relative to the natural beauty, ideal location and plethora of things to do. It's a very safe area and a great place to raise kids. My local public school is outstanding. I'm in the wine business, which is the main industry here. Many job opportunities are available in hospitality and wine. Commute time to SF is about 1 1/2-2 hours. There is limited public transportation, but we now have a SMART train in Sonoma County, with plans to expand up here. Also, the local airport is fantastic to use and has expanded service. Only drawback is cost of living (lack of affordable housing).
    The weather, food, artistic community are all wonderful. It's a special community that values quality of life and sports locally owned businesses. Very few chain stores or restaurants, especially in neighborhoods. Love living in Sonoma County