1st Advantage MortgageThe median Sonoma County household earns $104,674, and 9% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's California license first.
On this page
- Sonoma County by the numbers
- Paychecks and income spread in Sonoma County
- What it costs to live in Sonoma County
- Employment and commuting in Sonoma County
- Places inside Sonoma County
- Sonoma County and the counties next door
- Who lives in Sonoma County, in numbers
- Borrowing situations common in Sonoma County
- Room for a loan payment in Sonoma County
- Licensing and complaints for Sonoma County
- Four steps for Sonoma County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Sonoma County by the numbers
Sonoma County is home to about 485,040 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 17th most populous of 58 county-level areas in California. Packed into 1,575 square miles, that is close to 308 residents for every square mile of land. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 38 places in the county (9 incorporated, 29 census-designated); the largest is Santa Rosa, with about 177,090 residents, or 37% of the county.
Paychecks and income spread in Sonoma County
Sonoma County households have a median income of $104,674 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 16th of 58 in California.
| Income band | Share in Sonoma County | Difference from California |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 14.6% | -3.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 33.1% | +0.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.7% | +2.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 20.7% | +0.2 pts |
Some 15% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 52% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 8.9%, 3 points lower than the state's 12.0%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.462 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Sonoma County median.
What it costs to live in Sonoma County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $2,158 in Sonoma County versus $2,036 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 55% of renter households here. Home values center on $815,500, or 7.8 years of median income. The ownership rate is 63%. Median construction year: 1979.
| Housing | Sonoma County | California statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $2,158/mo | $2,036/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $815,500 | $734,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 63% | 56% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 55% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 39% | 38% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.8% | 3.5% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 8% | 7% | n/a |
High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Employment and commuting in Sonoma County
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Sonoma County residents work in education and health care and 13% in professional and administrative services. The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 9% locally and 7% for California. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 15% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 4.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Sonoma County workers | vs California |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.8% | +0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.7% | -1.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | +0.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.0% | +1.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.5% | 0.0 pts |
| Construction | 9.0% | +2.3 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Places inside Sonoma County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 38 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 83% of Sonoma County residents live in one of the 38. Glen Ellen has the highest median household income on the list ($202,097) and Monte Rio the lowest ($63,750), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $1,063 in Occidental to $3,333 in Petaluma Center. No Sonoma County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 38.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa | city | 177,090 | $99,060 | $2,152 | 13 mi |
| Petaluma | city | 59,247 | $115,430 | $2,440 | 25 mi |
| Rohnert Park | city | 44,575 | $99,273 | $2,279 | 17 mi |
| Windsor | town | 26,081 | $133,979 | $2,433 | 6 mi |
| Healdsburg | city | 11,243 | $103,554 | $2,158 | 7 mi |
| Sonoma | city | 10,670 | $98,527 | $2,226 | 30 mi |
| Cloverdale | city | 8,886 | $117,177 | $1,435 | 19 mi |
| Larkfield-Wikiup | CDP | 8,765 | $97,071 | $2,104 | 9 mi |
| Cotati | city | 7,489 | $110,750 | $2,056 | 18 mi |
| Sebastopol | city | 7,445 | $87,684 | $1,902 | 10 mi |
| Boyes Hot Springs | CDP | 7,247 | $101,288 | $1,876 | 28 mi |
| Guerneville | CDP | 4,100 | $81,281 | $1,579 | 3 mi |
| Forestville | CDP | 3,717 | $115,962 | $1,833 | 4 mi |
| El Verano | CDP | 3,443 | $123,738 | $2,372 | 28 mi |
Sonoma County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Sonoma County's, from 32 to 56 miles away. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Sonoma County; Marin County is highest at $149,091 and Lake County lowest at $60,621.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonoma County | - | $104,674 | $2,158/mo | 63% |
| Napa County, CA | 32 mi | $111,471 | $2,237/mo | 63% |
| Marin County, CA | 34 mi | $149,091 | $2,668/mo | 65% |
| Lake County, CA | 41 mi | $60,621 | $1,368/mo | 72% |
| San Francisco County, CA | 55 mi | $140,970 | $2,476/mo | 38% |
| Yolo County, CA | 56 mi | $91,752 | $1,857/mo | 54% |
| Solano County, CA | 56 mi | $100,401 | $2,163/mo | 63% |
Who lives in Sonoma County, in numbers
Degree holders: 38% of adults over 25. 5.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Sonoma County | California | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 37.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 38.5% | 37.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.3% | 15.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.1% | 6.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.8% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.9% | 17.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.9% | 12.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.7% | 6.6% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Sonoma County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.4% |
| 60+ min | 8.9% |
Borrowing situations common in Sonoma County
What the Sonoma County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Six-figure budgets. For the 52% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Rent squeeze. 55% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Room for a loan payment in Sonoma County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Sonoma County's medians:
- Start: $8,723 gross per month ($104,674 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $2,158, takes 25% of that
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,593 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Sonoma County's.
Licensing and complaints for Sonoma County
Sonoma County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on California: California personal loans.
Four steps for Sonoma County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Sonoma County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- A California license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the California guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Sonoma County earn?
The median is $104,674; 52% earn $100,000 or more and 15% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Sonoma County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $2,158 against $2,036 statewide, and 55% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Sonoma County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Windsor, Healdsburg and 33 more.
Will a Sonoma County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming California as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Sonoma County residents?
The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation licenses consumer lenders in California; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.