Sonoma County, CA Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Sonoma County | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 483,333 | 38,909,900 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 273.7 | 237.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.35% | 0.19% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 40.8 | 35.4 | 37.1 |
| Households | 190,495 | 13,415,389 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Sonoma County grew by 4.6% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 485,633 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Sonoma County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Sonoma County | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $103,209 | $96,718 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 6.22% | 6.01% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 6.4% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Sonoma County is about 7% higher than in California.
Housing
| Metric | Sonoma County | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $815,274 | $642,203 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $2,093 | $1,955 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 62.2% | 55.8% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Sonoma County is about 32.5 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $2,093 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Sonoma County spend about 41 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 171 hours, about 7.1 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Sonoma County | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 20.6 | 23.6 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 41.1 | 47.2 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 171 | 197 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $5,313 | $6,099 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 14.4% | 15.5% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 14,730 | 16,509 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,861 | 2,449 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
California:
Inyo County (11.2 min), Del Norte County (11.7 min), Modoc County (11.8 min).
Slowest:
Contra Costa County (31.2 min), San Benito County (31.0 min), Alpine County (30.4 min).
The average commute time in Sonoma County is 21 minutes, shorter than the 24 minutes in California.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Sonoma County has a education index of B, which means it is quite educated.
| Metric | Sonoma County | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.1% | 33.0% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.50 | 2.85 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
California:
Marin County (0.5), San Francisco County (0.4), Santa Clara County (0.4).
Lowest:
Colusa County (0.2), Merced County (0.2), Glenn County (0.2).
Health
Sonoma County has a health index of A, which means it is very healthy.
| Metric | Sonoma County | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 80.6 | 79.6 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 12.7% | 16.4% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 12.0% | 13.9% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
California:
San Francisco County (0.8), San Mateo County (0.8), Santa Clara County (0.8).
Lowest:
Lake County (0.8), Imperial County (0.8), Tulare County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Sonoma County, California.
What is the population of Sonoma County, California?
The population of Sonoma County, California is 483,333, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Sonoma County, California?
The population density of Sonoma County, California is 273.7 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Sonoma County, California?
The median household income in Sonoma County, California is $103,209, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Sonoma County, California?
The median home price in Sonoma County, California is $815,274, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Sonoma County, California?
The unemployment rate in Sonoma County, California is 5.2%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.