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City · 10,670 residents · Sonoma County, California

Sonoma , California

In Sonoma, a typical home is worth $970,500 and typical rent is $2,226 a month. Compared with all of Sonoma County, the typical home value is 19% higher and typical household income is 6% lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $970,500

    19% above the county

    32% above California

    • Sonoma
    • County
    • California

  • Typical rent

    $2,226a month

    3% above the county

    9% above California

    • Sonoma
    • County
    • California

  • Typical household income

    $98,527a year

    6% below the county

    About the same as California

    • Sonoma
    • County
    • California

  • Households that own their home

    65%

    2 points above the county

    9 points above California

    • Sonoma
    • County
    • California

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$920,593
1.4% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$2,991 a month
3.9% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Sonoma is in Sonoma County. The FHA loan limit ($897,000 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Sonoma County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Sonoma apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Rohnert Park, the typical home value is $666,300: 31% less than in Sonoma ($970,500).

  2. Nearby, in Boyes Hot Springs, the typical rent is $1,876: 16% less than in Sonoma ($2,226).

  3. The typical home in Sonoma is worth $970,500, 19% more than in Sonoma County as a whole ($815,500).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Sonoma

What homes there are in Sonoma, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house is still the most common home in Sonoma, but it weighs less than in Sonoma County: 58% against 67%.

Mobile homes are 9% of homes in Sonoma, more than in Sonoma County (5%).

Year built

The typical year built in Sonoma is 1977, about the same as in Sonoma County (1979).

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$3,037 a month

Sonoma County: $3,040 a month

Without a mortgage

$1,072 a month

Sonoma County: $927 a month

Owners with a mortgage

59%

Sonoma County: 66%

Owning costs about the same in Sonoma as in Sonoma County: with a mortgage, $3,037 a month; without one, $1,072.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Sonoma rose 24%; in Sonoma County, it rose 34%.

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Sonoma rose 21%, less than in Sonoma County (33%).

Here income did not keep up with housing: it rose 17%, while home values changed +24% and rent +21%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureSonomaSonoma CountyCaliforniaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate2.7%4.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.6%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate4.8%8.2%3.4%
People per household 1.972.492.842.53
Drive alone 69%69%66%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate9%10%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%3%3%
Walk or bike 6%3%3%3%
Work from home 23%16%17%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Households in Sonoma are smaller: 1.97 people on average; in Sonoma County, 2.49.

Many people here do not commute at all: 23% work from home; in Sonoma County, 16%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Sonoma?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Sonoma, worth $970,500, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 98% of the typical household income in Sonoma, which is $98,527 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $343,686 a year. Note: at that price the loan is above the FHA limit for Sonoma County ($897,000), so FHA would not insure it; the payment is only a reference.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Sonoma County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Sonoma. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $33,968 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$8,019

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$952,921
Total interest
$1,371,030
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $16,389 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,299 a month

  • Tight

    $2,299 to $2,956 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,956 a month

    Your payment · 98%

Compared with the typical household income in Sonoma ($98,527 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$8,019
Principal & interest$6,455
Property tax$574
Home insurance$404
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$585

This loan is over the FHA limit

You'd borrow $936,532, but the FHA limit for a one-unit home in Sonoma is $897,000. You'd need a bigger down payment or a different loan.

You need at least $33,968 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Sonoma and Sonoma County

Sonoma is in Sonoma County, California. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Sonoma's own numbers

Typical home value
$970,500
Typical monthly rent
$2,226
Typical yearly household income
$98,527
Households that own their home
65%
Effective property tax rate
0.71%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Sonoma County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$897,000
Conventional limit, one unit
$897,000
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,819
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+25%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.4%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Sonoma County.

Everything about Sonoma County

Buying

Buying a home in Sonoma

A typical home in Sonoma is worth $970,500: 19% above the county and 32% above California. With the typical household income in Sonoma ($98,527 a year), a typical home costs 9.9 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Sonoma 9.9 years
  • County 7.8 years
  • California 7.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Sonoma County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Sonoma County rose 60% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Sonoma County.

Period County California U.S.
Last year (2025) +0.5% +0.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +25% +40% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +60% +80% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Sonoma next to Sonoma County, California and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Sonoma $970,500
  • County $815,500
  • California $734,700
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Sonoma $2,226
  • County $2,158
  • California $2,036
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Sonoma $98,527
  • County $104,674
  • California $99,122
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Sonoma next to Sonoma County and California
Measure Sonoma Sonoma County California U.S.
Typical home value $970,500 $815,500 $734,700 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $2,226 $2,158 $2,036 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $98,527 $104,674 $99,122 $80,734
Households that own their home 65% 63% 56% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $6,930 $5,695 $5,124 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.71% 0.7% 0.7% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 64% 55% 55% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Sonoma County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Sonoma

For a typical $970,500 home in Sonoma, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Sonoma's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $8,019a month

    Above the FHA limit for Sonoma County ($897,000)
    Down payment
    $33,968
    Cash to close
    $63,083
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $585

  • Conventional, 5% down $7,685a month

    Above the conventional limit for Sonoma County ($897,000): it would be a "jumbo" loan
    Down payment
    $48,525
    Cash to close
    $77,640
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $461

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $6,238a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $194,100
    Cash to close
    $223,215
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $7,135a month

    Down payment
    $145,575
    Cash to close
    $174,690
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is Conventional, 20% down, no PMI.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Sonoma and for Sonoma County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Sonoma

0.71%of the home’s value each year

$6,930 a year for the typical owner in Sonoma.

  • Sonoma 0.71%
  • County 0.7%
  • California 0.7%

What California publishes Homeowners' exemption (California State Board of Equalization (BOE))

Exemptions and deadlines in California

Flood risk in Sonoma County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Sonoma County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
2.4%
3,971
Of those, with NFIP insurance
31%
County California U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 2.4% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 31% 31% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Sonoma

Typical rent in Sonoma is $2,226 a month: 3% above the county. In Sonoma, 64% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Sonoma County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($2,819 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $54.21 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Sonoma County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,980 $38.08 $79,200
1 bedroom $2,155 $41.44 $86,200
2 bedrooms $2,819 $54.21 $112,760
3 bedrooms $3,903 $75.06 $156,120
4 bedrooms $4,295 $82.60 $171,800

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Sonoma

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Sonoma is in ZIP code 95476.

For 2 bedrooms it is $2,990: $171 more than the fair market rent for Sonoma County ($2,819).

  • 95476 $2,990$3,960

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Sonoma when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Sonoma

HUD lists 6 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Sonoma. These are the largest.

  • Springs Village 200 Fuente Ln, Sonoma 95476 80 homes, 79 low-income · Studio: 8 · 1 bd: 8 · 2 bd: 21 · 3 bd: 35 · 4 bd: 8 · In service since 2005 · For families
  • Fetters Apartments (fka Sonoma Springs Family Apts) 17310 Highway 12, Sonoma 95476 60 homes, 59 low-income · 1 bd: 19 · 2 bd: 22 · 3 bd: 19 · In service since 2015 · For older adults
  • Valley Oak Homes 875 Lyon St, Sonoma 95476 43 homes, 42 low-income · 1 bd: 22 · 2 bd: 8 · 3 bd: 13 · In service since 2013 · For families
  • Celestina Garden Apartments 125 Dorene Way, Sonoma 95476 40 homes, 39 low-income · 1 bd: 37 · 2 bd: 3 · In service since 2020 · For older adults, people experiencing homelessness
  • Oak Ridge Senior Apts 18800 Beatrice Dr, Sonoma 95476 35 homes, 34 low-income · 1 bd: 30 · 2 bd: 5 · In service since 2007 · For older adults

See all 111 buildings in Sonoma County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Sonoma

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Sonoma County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A man smiles on a bench outside his apartment building.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Sonoma

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Sonoma or Sonoma County. The ones below are statewide in California: they work in Sonoma the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in California

  • MyHome Assistance Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers in California. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan

    Statewide in California

    Closed, per the source

    CalHFA down payment loan for first-generation buyers in California; when you sell, you repay the loan plus a share of the home's appreciation. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Shared appreciation

    See the program Official page

  • MyAccess Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers who use the CalPLUS Access mortgage (FHA or conventional). Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Sonoma

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Sonoma, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Balance - Santa Rosa

    3033 Cleveland Ave, Santa Rosa · 19 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 8 more
    (800) 777-7526

  • Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California

    851 Irwin St, San Rafael · 22 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 3 more
    (415) 457-5025

  • Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc

    3220 Blume Dr Ste 198, Richmond · 23 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 3 more
    510-237-6459-1601

Every agency in Sonoma County All counseling agencies in California

Help in Spanish near Sonoma

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Sonoma

HUD’s record names them for Sonoma or Sonoma County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

One other authority has an office in Sonoma County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Sonoma County

These cities are also in Sonoma County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Sonoma County Housing in California

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Sonoma, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Sonoma County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Sonoma.

All guides
Three women of one family lean in together to stir the pan.

Questions

Housing questions about Sonoma

Short answers with the numbers for Sonoma and all of Sonoma County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Sonoma?

The typical home value in Sonoma is $970,500, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Sonoma County it is $815,500.

How much does it cost to rent in Sonoma?

Typical rent in Sonoma is $2,226 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Sonoma County is $2,819.

What is the FHA loan limit in Sonoma?

Sonoma uses the FHA limit for all of Sonoma County (2026): $897,000 for a one-unit home and $1,725,050 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Sonoma?

The typical homeowner in Sonoma pays $6,930 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.71% of the home’s value; in Sonoma County, the rate is 0.7%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Sonoma?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Sonoma County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).