We know moving to a new area for a job or to grow a business requires a lot of research and that you need reliable data in order to make informed decisions. Demographic information is an important part of the Sonoma County story and we’ve pulled together a comprehensive list of reports facts and figures to help you get familiar with the finer details of our community and economy.

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Median Household Income

Median household income represents the level of earnings with half of households below and half above. From 2018 to 2019, Sonoma County has seen an approximate 3.6% contraction in households that earn less than $25,000 in annual income. There has also been a positive bump in median household income by $6,433 and an increase in per-capita income by $4,021. The increase in per-capita income is one of the highest among neighboring counties and comes two fold; the increase in median household income and the decrease in total population, (see page 14). As of 2019, Sonoma County’s median household income was $87,828 and, as follows, the greatest proportion of households fell in the $50,000-$99,999 income range. The only Bay Area county that had a lower median household income was Monterey ($77,514). The other Bay Area counties are ranked as follows; Napa ($92,769), Santa Cruz ($89,269), Contra Costa ($107,135), Alameda ($108,322), Marin ($110,843), and Santa Clara ($133,706).

Households by Income and Median Household Income, dot X axis, county Left Y axis, percentage Right Y axis, dollars Orange, $0 to $24,999 Green, $25,000 to $49,999 Maroon, $50,000 to $99,000 Teal, $100,000 to $199,999 Purple, $200,000 and above County, approximate median household income Monterey, $65,000 Sonoma, $85,000 Napa, $90,000 Santa Cruz, $95,000 Contra Costa, $105,000 Alameda, $105,000 Marin, $123,000 Santa Clara, $125,000 Source: American Community Survey

Population Trend

Sonoma County’s population continues to shrink, marking the fourth year of decline in a row, according to data from the US Census Bureau. In 2019, Sonoma County was home to an estimated 494,336 residents, which is 8,913 less than in 2016. Prior to 2016 Sonoma County had experienced continuous population growth, however, devastating wildfires and rising housing costs could be responsible for a lack of inbound migration. Sonoma County’s population leans more female (253,823).

Population time trend from 2009 to 2019 line graph X axis years from 2009 to 2019 Y axis Population size of Sonoma County Listed from 450 thousand to 525 thousand Trend increases from approximately 475 thousand in 2009 to approximately 500 thousand in 2016. Then begins to fall to approximately 495 thousand in 2019.

Median Age by County

Sonoma County ranks among the top two oldest counties in the Bay Area. At a median age of 43.1 years, Sonoma County trails only to Marin County (47.3 years). The aging population in the county is partially responsible for the robust growth that the healthcare industry has experienced. The largest age cohort in the county are the 35,466 people between 55 and 59 years old, followed closely by those be-tween 60-64 (35,662).

Median age by county, 2019, bar graph X axis, county Y axis, median age County, approximate median age Marin, 48 Sonoma, 45 Napa, 43 Contra costa, 41 Santa Cruz, 40 Alameda, 39 Santa Clara, 39 California (state), 38 Monterey, 37 Source: American Community Survey (US Census Bureau)

Ethnic Distribution

Ethnic distribution in Sonoma County reflects the ethnic make-up of the county population. The White population comprises the majority of the population (62.5%), however this racial/ethnic group constitutes a smaller percentage of the population in comparison to previous years. The Latinx population represents the largest minority group, accounting for over a quarter of the population (27.6%), while other minorities each represent less than 5 percent of the population: Asian (4.27%), all other groups (3.4%), African American (1.6%), and Native American
(0.7%). Over time, the proportion of the population that is White has decreased, while the proportion of the population that is Hispanic/Latino has increased.

Ethnic/Racial Distribution, Sonoma county, 2019, pie chart White, blue, 62.5% Latinx, green, 27.61% Asian, forest green, approximately 4% African American, maroon purple, approximately 2% Native American, orange, approximately less than 1% Other, purple, approximately 3% Source: Economic Modeling, LLC (EMSI)