2023 Best Places to Live in Sonoma County

• Town in California

• grade A

• grade B

• Population 944

• Town in California

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  Rating 2 out of 5  1 review

• grade B+

• grade B

• Population 1,076

• Town in California

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  Rating 3.67 out of 5  9 reviews

Current Resident: Graton is a peaceful, enjoyable place to live. Living in the middle of wine country is amazing. Beautiful views everywhere you look.... Read 9 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A

• Population 1,802

Current Resident: I have absolutely LOVED my time living in Sebastopol - it has everything I was looking for in a hometown: excellent restaurants, surrounded by fantastic wineries and breweries, close to the coast, fun local shopping, a strong community vibe with events, and plenty of nature. I have very little negative to say about it and would likely live here for the rest of my life if I could! Sadly, it IS quite expensive, and the constant threat of wildfire gets draining - those are the only drawbacks for me.... Read 40 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A minus

• Population 7,563

Current Resident: Honesty, a beautiful environment with greenery and golden hillsides if you dislike the urban habitat. For you busy city folks, their are sweet shops with caring employees. Schools are amazing and teach so much! I would say the price is high now, but sooner or later… rivers line some streets with fun outings and restaurants and cafes. My overall experience was so enjoyable. [^u^]... Read 194 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A

• Population 60,050

Current Resident: Windsor is a great town with lots of community. There are many community driven events here such as music nights on the green, farmers markets, parades through the town, and movie nights on the green. It is near Santa Rosa which has more of the bigger stores but still has more of a small town feel. It is surrounded by beautiful vineyards. It has a good mix of older generations as well as younger generations and a variety of features to fufill both of them including playgrounds, a senior center, a recreation center, and perhaps most importantly the town green where people of all ages gather to go shopping or just sit and enjoy the sun.... Read 87 reviews

• grade B

• grade B+

• Population 26,548

Current Resident: I have been living in Healdsburg for 14 months, and I love it. Having grown up in Mill Valley, CA (45 minutes south), and lived in both San Francisco and Los Angeles for many years, I was ready to return to a small town. It's a nice mixture of suburban and rural living. Vineyards and farms dot the outskirts of town. You might hear a rooster or see a family of sheep on a hillside, then a family of deer in the woods. I'm a nature and wildlife lover, so the many hiking trails within walking or easy driving distance to my house are just what I needed. Redwoods, firs and many other trees cover the hills. It's beautiful year round with vineyards and wildflowers. People are friendly. Many great restaurants and coffee shops, as well as tasting rooms and cute shops. The town square is a hub for all, offering free concerts and events in the warmer months. I feel safe here, and appreciate the mellow lifestyle. The only downside is expensive housing.... Read 33 reviews

• grade B

• grade B

• Population 11,439

Current Resident: Although a small, sleepy town, Penngrove has been a close-knit community that holds a small town pride. Whether walking along the downtown strip with the old red market or taking in the fresh air of the unpaved roads in the country outskirts, Penngrove has been a loyal friend to all peoples and pets.... Read 1 review

• grade B

• grade A

• Population 2,187

• Town in California

• •
  Rating 4.5 out of 5  4 reviews

Current Resident: Forestville is a small town. Because of this, the community tends to all know one another. People are overall friendly and many of the kids that grow up here know each other from pre-k through highschool. There are coffee shops, public schools, a bakery, CARS (local diner) and many walking trails. Every Christmas there is a tree lighting with almost the entire town. It is easy to walk everyone since it is such a small town. The closest "city" is about a 10 to 15 minute drive away.... Read 4 reviews

• grade B

• grade A

• Population 3,768

• Town in California

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  Rating 3.96 out of 5  48 reviews

Current Resident: Sonoma is a quite town with rarely any disturbances. Even though there are not many places for entertainment such as a movie theater, it does contain many restaurants and wine tasting rooms especially around the plaza. Regardless of the town's size, it is very lively. For example, during the summer one can enjoy the farmers market and live music on Tuesdays. On Fourth of July, the whole town can experience a parade around town of classical cars, a parade around the plaza, and fireworks after sunset. Sonoma is also a historic town. The plaza being the location of the Bear Flag Rebellion, San Francisco Solano Mission, and being part of El Camino Real.... Read 48 reviews

• grade B

• grade B

• Population 10,819

• City in California

• •
  Rating 3.81 out of 5  513 reviews

Current Resident: Santa Rosa, California, is a charming city located in the heart of Sonoma County, known for its wine country and scenic beauty. One of the most likable things about Santa Rosa is its vibrant downtown area, with a wide variety of restaurants, shops, and entertainment options. The area is also home to the famous Russian River Brewing Company, which offers a unique selection of craft beers and delicious pub fare. Additionally, Santa Rosa is surrounded by breathtaking natural landscapes, such as Annadel State Park and Spring Lake Regional Park, which offer hiking, biking, and water sports. The city also boasts an excellent cultural scene, with several art galleries and museums, such as the Sonoma County Museum and the Charles M. Schulz Museum, which celebrates the life and legacy of the creator of Peanuts. Overall, Santa Rosa has something for everyone, whether you're a foodie, outdoor enthusiast, or lover of the arts.... Read 513 reviews

• grade B

• grade B+

• Population 179,213

Current Resident: A small town close to but not in the middle of larger bustling towns and cities. Very walkable and bikeable, with the most basic necessities (post office, dining, shopping, pharmacy, police, and fire) all within a reasonable distance. A mix of local and chain restaurants and stores are available. Sonoma County Transit, Golden Gate Transit, and SMART provide public transportation.... Read 20 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade B minus

• Population 7,603

• Town in California

• •
  Rating 3.73 out of 5  11 reviews

Current Resident: Guerneville has a wonderful sense of community, but is a rural area with limited county resources. It is served by the county sheriff's office and at times there is only one deputy on duty. As a resort area, the summer can be challenging with a high influx of tourists and underdeveloped road systems and infrastructure. Housing is largely unaffordable and most properties are becoming uninsurable due to fire risk.... Read 11 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade A

• Population 4,879

Current Resident: Its a fairly small town with an interesting collection of markets. We have a town square where the main shops are and a park that displays movies on some weekends. It's a college town though, so it gets pretty wild with a high school and a college right next to us. But there is a lot of child friendly activities with nice areas for walking. I live on a sort of quiet street with not too much going on except our cat population problem! We tend to have a fair amount of fire warnings and power outages, which disrupts everyone a lot. I wish the people around us would be more cautious and be more considerate, with a lot of us in my town working or going to school a lot, it's tough to come home while people don't drive safely or take advantage of the quiet to try and steal things off of porches. It gets a little hectic, but it's home!... Read 117 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade B minus

• Population 44,420

• Town in California

• •
  Rating 4.64 out of 5  14 reviews

Current Resident: Cloverdale is a very warm and family-friendly small town. While there is not much to do around town, there are some nice local shops. There are a few beautiful hiking spots available in Cloverdale, along with parks and access to Lake Sonoma and rivers.... Read 14 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade B minus

• Population 9,023

• Town in California

• grade C+

• grade B+

• Population 1,920

• Town in California

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  Rating 4 out of 5  3 reviews

Current Resident: Amazing town, GREAT restaurants and very safe. I love the area and right in the heart of wine country.... Read 3 reviews

• grade C+

• grade B minus

• Population 7,791

• Town in California

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  Rating 4.13 out of 5  15 reviews

Niche User: A wonderful place to feel part of a community and raise children. People know each other and care. The weather is beautiful. There is an outdoor focus and open spaces. The plaza gives a gathering place and the 4th of July parade and Tuesday night Farmer's Market are the best!... Read 15 reviews

• grade C+

• grade B minus

• Population 3,346

• grade A

• grade A

• Population 703

• Town in California

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

Current Resident: Occidental is a very rural community, but has a strong focus on bringing the community together. The town is full of small, locally owned business', great food, and quaint boutique stores.... Read 1 review

• grade B+

• grade A

• Population 1,126

• Town in California

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Current Resident: I love living in Sea Ranch. Too beautiful to describe, can only be experienced. Hope to return to live here in the future.... Read 1 review

• grade B

• grade B minus

• Population 1,078

Current Resident: Fulton is what small town USA is. Town was built off of agriculture and has stayed that way. recently more push for new business including car rental and art gallery.Not much to do with the town besides visiting with neighbors. But Fulton is a proud town with great pride in the community. Being a member of the Fulton founders day, we have truly renovated the town. I've grown up here most of my life and would trade it for any other town.... Read 2 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade A minus

• Population 457

• Town in California

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Current Resident: It’s a small town with a really great view. It’s also nice and quiet which helps me relax. The elementary school here is great too. My nephew loves it.... Read 1 review

• grade B minus

• grade B+

• Population 1,139

Former Resident: Fantastic little town, everybody knows everybody. The school system is the best there is. I just wish the schools could get more funding for updates. ... Read 10 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade B+

• Population 865

• Town in California

• grade C+

• grade A

• Population 629