10 Best Independent Living Communities in Sonoma, CA

Learn More About Independent Living in Sonoma, CA

Renowned for its multitude of vineyards and wineries, Sonoma is a wine-lovers paradise. Residents of Sonoma have immediate access to convenient amenities like shopping centers to meet their everyday needs, as well as numerous city and state parks to enjoy Wine Country’s pleasant weather and pristine landscapes.

ndependent living communities — also known simply as retirement communities — in Sonoma are geared towards seniors who are able to live on their own, without daily assistance, and prefer to live among people their age. This usually means residents are self-sufficient and do not require hands-on care. Think of Sonoma retirement communities as age-restricted (typically 55+) complexes, which provide organized activities, meal services, and transportation.

Cost of Independent Living in Sonoma, CA

The median monthly cost of independent living is about $3,800 in Sonoma and within the metropolitan area. The median monthly cost of independent living in the state of California is around $3,000

Learn More About Sonoma, CA

Cost of Living

The total household expenses associated with living in Sonoma are rated three points above the national average. Grocery and other essential costs fluctuate around the average.

Index Scores

All index scores are based on a scale that has the national average set at 100. A score of 200 indicates that the cost is twice as expensive as the national average, while a score of 50 indicates that the cost is half as expensive.

Household Expenses	Health Care	Insurance	Entertainment	Groceries	Clothing
103	133	101	102	97	91

Income and Housing

Median Income Age 45-64	Median Income Age 65+	Median Household Income	Average Individual Income	Median Employee Salary	Average Property Tax	One-bedroom Apartment Gross Rent Estimate
$78,597 per year	$60,439 per year	$71,359 per year	$50,414 per year	$44,959 per year	$7,328 per year	$1,213 per month

Local Hospitals

The top hospitals that service Sonoma include:

Queen of the Valley Medical Center

• Facility type: faith-based, short-term acute care
• Bed count: 160+
• Specialties: emergency department, ICU, joint replacement

Sonoma Valley Hospital

• Facility type: governmental, short-term acute care
• Bed count: 70+
• Specialties: emergency department, ICU, physical therapy

Weather and Climate

Sonoma’s climate is classified as warm-summer Mediterranean, experiencing warm, dry summers and cool to mild winters. The average humidity level is 71%, and humidity levels are often highest during January at about 80%.

Seasonal Temperatures

January Average	January Maximum	January Minimum
48°F	58°F	37°F

July Average	July Maximum	July Minimum
71°F	90°F	52°F

Air Quality

• Relative Air Quality Index: 98

This index is based on a scale that has the national average set at 100. A score of 200 indicates twice the presence of air pollutants than the national average, while a score of 50 indicates half the presence.

Precipitation

• Average annual precipitation: 31″

Demographics and Values

Population Statistics

Median Age	Percent of Population Over 65	Population	Population Density	Average Household Size
51	28.3%	10,414	3,798 per square mile	2.1

Race & Ethnicity

American Indian or Alaskan Native	Asian	Black	Hispanic or Latino	Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	White (not Hispanic or Latino)
0.1%	3.0%	0.3%	15.5%	<0.1%	4.5%	77.8%

These figures were taken from the most recent U.S. Census.

LGBTQ+ Inclusivity

These scores were taken from the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index.

• Non-discrimination laws in Santa Rosa: 30/30
• Overall inclusivity: 78/100

2016 Presidential Election Results for Sonoma County

Democratic	Republican	Other
70.7%	22.8%	6.5%

Arts, Culture, Entertainment, and Recreation

Some of the most popular museums and historic sites in Sonoma include:

• Sonoma Valley Museum of Art
• Cloverdale History Center
• California Indian Museum & Cultural Center
• Toscano Hotel
• Sonoma State Historic Park
• Mission San Francisco Solano

Outdoor attractions in Sonoma:

• Larson Park
• Maxwell Farms Regional Park
• Ernie Smith Community Park
• Austin State Creek Recreation Area
• Gualala Point Regional Park
• Hood Mountain Regional Park
• Quarryhill Botanical Garden

Sonoma’s top entertainment destinations and shopping districts are:

• Sebastiani Theatre
• Sonoma 9 Cinema
• Lake Sonoma Steelhead Festival
• Artisan Cheese Festival
• Sonoma Wine Country Weekend
• Sonoma Marketplace Shopping Center
• Maxwell Village Shopping Center
• Sonoma Court Shops

Transportation

Sonoma County Transit provides bus services throughout the county and offers senior discounts. For resident cyclists seeking a more active mode of transportation, Sonoma has recently been given the bronze award for community bike-friendliness by the League of American Bicyclists. Taxis, and rideshare services like Uber and Lyft, are also available in Sonoma.