What are the schools like in Sonoma, CA?

Sonoma is served primarily by Sonoma Valley Unified. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 19.5:1.

What is the median household income in Sonoma?

The median household income in Sonoma, CA is $96,090 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.1%.

What is the weather like in Sonoma, CA?

Sonoma has an average high temperature of 57.0°F in January and 86.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 28.4 inches.

Sonoma, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Sonoma, CA affordable or expensive?

Sonoma's cost of living index is 110, where 100 represents the national average. This means Sonoma is 10% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $924,700 and the median rent is $2,164 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Sonoma, CA?

Sonoma has a violent crime rate of 179.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1152.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Sonoma, CA a Good Place to Live?

Sonoma is a small city of 10,702 in California, with a median household income of $96,090 and a 6.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 110 (US average = 100), which is 10% above the national average.

Strengths: Sonoma stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Sonoma is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Sonoma city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 110.1

Sonoma's overall cost of living index is 110.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Sonoma costs roughly 10% more than the average American city.

Metric	Sonoma, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$924,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$2,164	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	61.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$96,090	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Sonoma's violent crime rate is 179.5 per 100,000 residents — 53% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

179.5 /100k

Property Crime

1152.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Sonoma is served primarily by Sonoma Valley Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.5:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Sonoma, CA	National Avg
School District	Sonoma Valley Unified	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	19.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	47.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Sonoma sees average highs of 57.0°F in January and 86.0°F in July, with 28.4 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Sonoma, CA
Average High — January	57.0°F
Average High — July	86.0°F
Annual Precipitation	28.4"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Sonoma, CA	National Avg
Population	10,702	—
Median Age	54.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	27.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	87.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.1%	18.9%
Asian	2.2%	6.3%
Under 18	13.9%	22.2%
65 and over	33.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

El Verano, CA 2 mi Boyes Hot Springs, CA 2 mi Fetters Hot Springs-Agua Caliente, CA 3 mi Temelec, CA 3 mi Eldridge, CA 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Sonoma

Sonoma, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

95476

Sonoma vs Other Cities

Sonoma, CA vs El Verano, CA Sonoma, CA vs Boyes Hot Springs, CA Sonoma, CA vs Fetters Hot Springs-Agua Caliente, CA Sonoma, CA vs Temelec, CA Sonoma, CA vs Eldridge, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sonoma, CA affordable or expensive?

Sonoma's cost of living index is 110, where 100 is the national average. That puts Sonoma roughly 10% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $924,700 and median rent is $2,164/month.

What is the crime rate in Sonoma, CA?

Sonoma's violent crime rate is 179.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1152.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Sonoma?

Public schools in Sonoma are operated by Sonoma Valley Unified. The district has 4 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.5:1. 47.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Sonoma, CA a good place to live?

Sonoma, CA has a population of 10,702, a median household income of $96,090, and an unemployment rate of 6.1%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Sonoma?

Sonoma averages 57.0°F in January and 86.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 28.4 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Sonoma?

Sonoma, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 95476.

What is the population of Sonoma?

The population of Sonoma, California is 10,702 with a median age of 54.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Sonoma?

Key numbers for living in Sonoma: cost of living index 110 (100 = US average), median home $924,700, median household income $96,090, crime index 50 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sonoma side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.