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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Sonoma County

California · 488,863 residents · 1,575.337 sq mi
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The short version

Sonoma County is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $86,173. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $640,000.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.6
US median: 38.8
More educated
36% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 61%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
488,863
+7%since 2000
from 458,614 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
310 / sq mi
+7%since 2000
from 291 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
42.6
+14%since 2000
from 37.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
377K411K445K479K513K1990201020202024Sonoma County
2024485K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$86,173
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $53,076 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$44,071
+71%since 2000
from $25,724 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
56.5%
+14.2 ptssince 2009
from 42.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
8.8%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 8.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information11.7%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade10%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade8.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services5.2%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance3.9%
US avg: 5.5%
Public administration3.2%
US avg: 4.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.6%
US avg: 2.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.4%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction2.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food2%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$640,000
+61%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $265,200 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,743
+34%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $864 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
60.2%
−3.8 ptssince 2000
from 64.1% in 2000
39.8% rent
Afford Score
7.4
+49%since 2000
from 5.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Sonoma County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic74.5%(341,686)
Black1.3%(6,116)
Hispanic / Latino17.3%(79,511)
Asian3%(13,786)
Other0%
Diversity Score45.8%(209,985)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic58.5%(285,792)
Black1.5%(7,125)
Hispanic / Latino28.9%(141,438)
Asian4.5%(22,239)
Other4.8%(23,673)
Diversity Score69.3%(338,763)
Segregation Score29.5%(143,989)
Diversity Score
69
+51%since 2000
from 46 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
29
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
36.4%
+7.9 ptssince 2000
from 28.5% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
89.1%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 84.9% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
13.6%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 9.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.6 min
+32%since 2000
from 19.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
74.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 74.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
4.8%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.6%
−4.1 ptssince 2011
from 8.7% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
65.0%
−1.3 ptssince 2011
from 66.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
39.6%
−23.7 ptssince 2009
from 63.2% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.8%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Female
51.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Foreign born
16.6%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
6.0%
−79.9 ptssince 2013
from 85.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Sonoma County

Burlington County
Pop 481,439
Dakota County
Pop 457,710
Kane County
Pop 525,757
St. Charles County
Pop 426,499
Places similar to Sonoma County
Head to head

Compare Sonoma County to nearby counties

SONOMA COUNTY VS
Napa County
Income$111,471+29%
Home value$869,500+36%
Population132,949−73%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SONOMA COUNTY VS
Marin County
Income$149,091+73%
Home value$1,507,300+136%
Population253,694−48%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SONOMA COUNTY VS
Lake County
Income$60,621−30%
Home value$324,300−49%
Population67,772−86%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SONOMA COUNTY VS
San Francisco County
Income$140,970+64%
Home value$1,394,500+118%
Population826,079+70%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Sonoma County, California?

Sonoma County, California has about 488,863 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Sonoma County, California?

The typical household in Sonoma County, California earns about $86,173 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Sonoma County, California expensive?

In Sonoma County, California, the median home is worth about $640,000, and the typical rent is about $1,743 a month.

How educated are people in Sonoma County, California?

About 36.4% of adults age 25 and over in Sonoma County, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Sonoma County, California?

About 8.8% of people in Sonoma County, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Sonoma County, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Sonoma County, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 100,641 residents, a change of about 26 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

122 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 1514.05Census Tract 1513.11Census Tract 1530.01Census Tract 1530.06Census Tract 1529.06Census Tract 1530.02Census Tract 1513.05Census Tract 1506.03Census Tract 1542.02Census Tract 1526.01Census Tract 1513.09Census Tract 1533.01Census Tract 1503.04Census Tract 1530.05Census Tract 1513.10Census Tract 1515.06Census Tract 1533.02Census Tract 1530.03Census Tract 1529.04Census Tract 1507.01
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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