Groundwork

County profile · California

Sonoma County, CA market data

How Sonoma County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.

Population, 2025
486,444
−0.4% since 2020
Households
190,998
Median household income
$104,674
+29.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
Median home value
$815,500
Jobs located here
200,159
Highest market score
80
Barbershops, #71 of 1,356 scored counties

A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Sonoma County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Sonoma County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.

Free10 actions over 3 days, no card

Survey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure

What this means

Sonoma County has an estimated 486,444 people and 190,998 households. Population estimates show Sonoma County declined 0.4% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Sonoma County is $104,674, 30% above the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 29.2%, before inflation.

Relative to the U.S., household spending in Sonoma County runs highest on child care and other personal services (an index of 157, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on clothing, shoes and related services (103, still above the U.S.).

Of the business types scored in Sonoma County, barbershops (80), funeral homes (79) and optometrists and eye clinics (77) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For barbershops, that ranks #71 of 1,356 scored counties.

Sonoma County is part of the Santa Rosa-Petaluma metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for mortgage brokers and lenders (98% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for funeral homes (48% below the U.S. rate).

All 56 business types in Sonoma County

Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Sonoma County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.

Every business type in Sonoma County, CA, highest Groundwork market score first, with its rank among counties, listings, listings per 10,000 households, spending per listing and official establishments
Business typeScoreRank among countiesListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingSpending per listing vs. U.S. (100)Official establishments
Barbershops80#71 of 1,356673.5$3.4M1783
Funeral homes79#75 of 1,472211.1$1.5M22412
Optometrists and eye care77#91 of 1,302562.9$5.1M16322
Car washes and detailing73#154 of 1,451502.6$4.5M17928
Gas stations72#332 of 2,3581417.4$3.9M164109
Oil change and quick lube71#55 of 479100.5$22.6M16412
Physical therapy70#218 of 1,422713.7$4M16762
Convenience stores68#474 of 2,261985.1$13M16564
Fast food and sandwich shops67#464 of 2,22221411.2$4.2M137354
Urgent care and walk-in clinics66#60 of 325120.6$23.8M977
Tire shops66#365 of 1,530593.1$3.8M15336
Pizza66#436 of 2,0901457.6$6.2M121354
Home inspectors61#110 of 41560.3Index only24719
Primary care and pediatrics61#478 of 1,6561105.8$2.6M146264
Child care and preschools61#500 of 1,6111296.8$1.3M135152
Pest control59#233 of 699191.0$15.3M15032
Auto repair and car care59#769 of 2,40164633.8$350K130342
Laundromats58#296 of 785321.7$12.7M10110
Roofing and gutters58#400 of 1,177462.4$13.7M16265
Martial arts and dance studios58#430 of 1,3341176.1$2.4M11966
Chiropractors58#515 of 1,4901095.7$2.6M11061
Gyms58#591 of 1,7921588.3$1.8M137104
Auto repair shops57#843 of 2,37840521.2$557K125250
Pet stores56#385 of 974532.8$4.3M9418
Dry cleaners55#213 of 507191.0$21.4M13623
Collision repair and body shops54#562 of 1,327653.4$3.5M11367
Pet grooming and boarding54#628 of 1,461844.4$2.7M10668
Gyms, studios and classes54#842 of 2,08835918.8$785K119170
Pet businesses54#892 of 2,20025713.5$878K100178
Grocery and convenience stores53#1,059 of 2,40236919.3$3.5M102211
House cleaning49#438 of 847472.5$6.2M97122
Veterinarians49#766 of 1,485934.9$2.4M8992
Hair salons48#1,285 of 2,33952527.5$428K99124
Insurance agencies47#1,219 of 2,27225913.6$1.5M119163
Spas and skin care45#1,069 of 1,76928815.1$780K8941
Clothing and shoe stores45#1,214 of 2,08730916.2$1.3M103167
Grocery stores44#1,216 of 2,0701487.7$8.6M93147
Home repair trades44#1,307 of 2,05727214.2$2.3M96561
Sit-down restaurants44#1,452 of 2,4051,24665.2$717K108511
Doctors, dentists and clinics44#1,465 of 2,3941,49678.3$191K125698
Nail salons43#884 of 1,3281306.8$1.7M10384
Landscaping and lawn care43#914 of 1,4931236.4$2.4M81301
Lawn, cleaning and pest control43#1,120 of 1,7711899.9$1.5M92455
Property management42#589 of 910733.8Index only96178
HVAC and plumbing42#1,135 of 1,7071578.2$4M85262
Clothing, shoes and laundry42#1,411 of 2,21044723.4$909K103200
Electricians40#819 of 1,160693.6$9.2M76234
Real estate agents and brokers40#1,592 of 2,17668135.7Index only105231
Salons, barbers and spas40#1,728 of 2,3851,04754.8$215K101256
Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios39#569 of 777844.4$3.4M83104
Bakeries and dessert shops36#1,442 of 1,88926113.7$3.4M83191
Coffee shops and cafes36#1,559 of 2,06330916.2$2.9M78171
Real estate35#1,873 of 2,22992348.3Index only97512
Dentists and orthodontists33#1,552 of 1,88631016.2$922K94282
Mortgage brokers and lenders31#769 of 8871638.5Index only6157
Restaurants and cafes31#1,996 of 2,4053,338174.8$268K721,041

Household spending in Sonoma County

What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).

Annual household spending in Sonoma County, CA by line, per household, and against the U.S.
Spending lineA year, all householdsPer householdIndex vs. U.S. (100)
Vehicle maintenance and repairs$225.8M$1,182123
Gasoline and other fuels$550.6M$2,883111
Food away from home$893.7M$4,679115
Groceries$1.3B$6,669106
Personal care products and services$224.8M$1,177117
Child care and other personal services$174M$911157
Memberships, classes and admissions$281.9M$1,476150
Medical and dental services$285.7M$1,496116
Pets$225.6M$1,181130
Clothing, shoes and related services$406.2M$2,127103
Vehicle insurance$385.4M$2,018103
Home repairs, maintenance and insurance$631.9M$3,309110
Lawn care, cleaning and other household services$291.2M$1,525108
Rent and homeowner costs$3.9B$20,353122

Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.

Population and households in Sonoma County

Population, 2025 estimate
486,444−0.4% since 2020
Households
190,998
Median age
44.0
Homes lived in by their owners
63%
Vehicles per household
2.0
Land area
1,575 sq. mi.
People per square mile
308
Median household income
$104,674+29.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
Average household income
$142,354
Median home value
$815,500
Jobs located here
200,159
Daytime population
465,573Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here

Looking at a specific site in Sonoma County?

These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.

Or open the report at the center of Sonoma County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.

Free10 actions over 3 days, no card

Sonoma County is part of the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro area.

Questions

How fast is Sonoma County, CA growing?

Population estimates put Sonoma County at 486,444 people in 2025, down 0.4% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 190,998 households. Median household income rose 29.2% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.

How much do households in Sonoma County, CA spend?

Households in Sonoma County spend about $3.9B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $1.3B on groceries and $893.7M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Sonoma County spend the most on child care and other personal services (an index of 157, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on clothing, shoes and related services (103, still above the U.S.).

Which business types have the highest market scores in Sonoma County, CA?

The highest Groundwork market scores in Sonoma County are for barbershops (80), funeral homes (79) and optometrists and eye clinics (77). Sonoma County ranks #71 of 1,356 scored counties for barbershops.

How does Sonoma County, CA compare with the U.S.?

The median household income in Sonoma County is $104,674 a year, 30% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 0.4% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $815,500, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Sonoma County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for mortgage brokers and lenders (98% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for funeral homes (48% below the U.S. rate).

What is the Groundwork market score?

The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. All 56 business types have a score in Sonoma County, each ranked against other counties.

How can I see the market around a specific site?

Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Sonoma County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.

All markets in California · Every U.S. market · How we measure

Screening a site or an acquisition in Sonoma County?

A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.

The button opens the report at the center of Sonoma County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.