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METRO AREA

Santa Rosa Metro

Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA · 1 counties · 486,444 residents (2025 est.) · 1,575.337 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#9Highest median rentof 925$2,158#18Most expensive homesof 925$815,500#20Highest median household incomeof 925$104,674
The short version

Santa Rosa is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $104,674. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $815,500. It ranks in the top 1% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.9
US median: 38.9
Average education
38% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 69%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
485,040
+6%since 2000
from 458,614 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
308 / sq mi
+6%since 2000
from 291 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
42.9
+14%since 2000
from 37.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:486,444 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
377K411K445K479K513K1990201020202024Santa Rosa
2024485K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$104,674
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $53,076 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$56,640
+120%since 2000
from $25,724 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
64.5%
+22.2 ptssince 2009
from 42.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
8.9%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 8.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.462
+5%since 2010
from 0.441 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information10.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade10%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade9%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services5.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration3.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical2.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing2.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$815,500
+69%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $265,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$2,158
+37%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $864 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
62.6%
−1.5 ptssince 2000
from 64.1% in 2000
37.4% rent
Vacancy rate
8.0%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
31.7%
−12.2 ptssince 2009
from 43.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
51.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
7.8
+56%since 2000
from 5.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
62
RELATED:See current rent listings in Santa Rosa 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%
2024
White, non-Hispanic57.9%(280,966)
Black1.5%(7,185)
Hispanic / Latino30%(145,518)
Asian4.3%(21,090)
Other6.2%(30,281)
Diversity Score71.1%(344,644)
Segregation Score29.1%(140,969)
Diversity Score
71
+55%since 2000
from 46 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
29
−1%since 2020
from 29 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
38.5%
+9.9 ptssince 2000
from 28.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.7%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 84.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
14.6%
+4.8 ptssince 2000
from 9.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.1 min
+30%since 2000
from 19.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
69.4%
−4.8 ptssince 2009
from 74.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.4%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.1%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
15.9%
+9.0 ptssince 2009
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.5%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.8%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.7%
−3.0 ptssince 2011
from 8.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
64.0%
−2.3 ptssince 2011
from 66.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.2%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 13.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
42.6%
−20.6 ptssince 2009
from 63.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.2%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Female
50.8%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Foreign born
16.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.8%
−44.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.6%
+1.9 ptssince 2012
from 10.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.1%
−80.8 ptssince 2013
from 85.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
94.4%
+9.3 ptssince 2017
from 85.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
73.0%
−1.1 ptssince 2016
from 74.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
21.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2016
from 20.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

Santa RosaCENTRAL179,437PetalumaCENTRAL59,688
What's inside

1 component county

Sonoma CountyCENTRAL486,444
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Santa Rosa

Manchester
Pop 433,415
Vallejo
Pop 455,376
Santa Maria
Pop 442,065
Salinas
Pop 433,729
Places similar to Santa Rosa
Head to head

Compare Santa Rosa side by side

SANTA ROSA VS
Manchester
Income$103,545−1%
Home value$421,100−48%
Population433,415−11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANTA ROSA VS
Vallejo
Income$100,401−4%
Home value$617,700−24%
Population455,376−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANTA ROSA VS
Santa Maria
Income$98,161−6%
Home value$790,700−3%
Population442,065−9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANTA ROSA VS
Salinas
Income$97,230−7%
Home value$781,000−4%
Population433,729−11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA?

Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA has about 485,040 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA?

The typical household in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA earns about $104,674 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA expensive?

In Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA, the median home is worth about $815,500, and the typical rent is about $2,158 a month.

How educated are people in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA?

About 38.5% of adults age 25 and over in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA?

About 8.9% of people in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA grown since 1990?

Yes, Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA has grown since 1990. The population has added about 96,818 residents, a change of about 25 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →