Santa Rosa Junior College Area Guide: Housing, Neighborhoods, Commuting and Student Life

Santa Rosa Junior College, founded in 1918, serves about 22,000 students a semester from its main campus on Mendocino Avenue north of downtown Santa Rosa, a second campus in Petaluma and three other sites, which makes the areas around it steady markets for rentals, first homes and faculty and staff housing.

Santa Rosa’s median owner-occupied home value was $713,900 and median rent $2,152 in the latest Census estimates. This guide covers the campuses, housing nearby, getting around, and what buyers and investors should check.

SRJC at a glance

Sources: SRJC; SRJC 2025 Fast Facts.

Santa Rosa by the numbers

Source: Census QuickFacts. With more than 43% of homes rented, Santa Rosa has a large rental market, and the college adds steady demand near both campuses. Sonoma County’s median single-family sale price was $875,000 in September 2026 (C.A.R.); for town-by-town prices, see our county market report.

Housing near the Santa Rosa campus

The main campus sits just north of downtown, surrounded by established neighborhoods of older single-family homes, small multifamily buildings and apartments, with shopping along Mendocino Avenue and at Coddingtown to the west. Housing types you’ll see nearby:

• Older single-family homes on grid streets, many with room for an ADU
• Duplexes, small apartment buildings and condos
• Larger apartment complexes along major roads

Older homes mean the usual checks: foundation, wiring, sewer lateral, permits for any converted garages or second units, and lead paint in homes built before 1978 (EPA). For the wider city, see our Santa Rosa guide.

Housing near the Petaluma campus

The Petaluma campus is on the east side of the city off Sonoma Mountain Parkway, close to newer subdivisions and shopping centers and a short drive to Highway 101. Petaluma was one of the county’s most competitive markets in 2026, with more than half of homes selling over list in the three months to September (Redfin).

The other SRJC sites

SRJC Roseland is on South Wright Road in southwest Santa Rosa, and the college uses the Public Safety Training Center in Windsor and Shone Farm near Forestville for hands-on programs (SRJC). If you’ll spend most of your time at one of those sites, consider housing near it rather than near the main campus: Windsor, the west county towns and southwest Santa Rosa each have their own housing mix and prices.

Getting around

• Bus: Sonoma County Transit Route 30 serves SRJC on its run between Santa Rosa and Sonoma Plaza (Sonoma County Transit), and Santa Rosa CityBus serves the campus area.
• Train: SMART stations at Downtown Santa Rosa and Santa Rosa North connect north to Windsor and south through Petaluma to Larkspur (SMART).
• Driving: Highway 101 runs between the Santa Rosa and Petaluma campuses; the Public Safety Training Center is in Windsor and Shone Farm is in the west county near Sebastopol.

Buying near the college

Being near a campus is a convenience for students, faculty and staff, not an investment plan by itself. If you’re buying to live in the home, focus on commute, noise and parking at the times you’ll be home. Our guide to buying a home in Sonoma County and first-time homebuyer’s guide walk through the process, and our mortgages guide covers 2026 loan limits. Santa Rosa adds its own transfer tax of $2.00 per $1,000 on top of the county’s $1.10 (Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder).

Investing in rentals near SRJC

1. Get real rent evidence from comparable long-term rentals nearby.
2. Check the state rent cap: annual increases on covered units are limited to 5% plus inflation, or 10%, whichever is lower; exemptions include newer buildings and single-family homes owned by individuals with the required notice (Civil Code 1947.12).
3. Know the just-cause rules that apply after a tenant has lived in a covered unit for 12 months (Civil Code 1946.2).
4. Look at ADU potential under state law (HCD); many older lots near campus have room.
5. Treat all applicants the same. Fair housing law applies to every rental; screen on consistent, written criteria.
6. Budget for turnover and wear, and for management if you won’t handle it yourself.

For more on investing in Sonoma County, see our investor page. Questions about a specific property near either campus? Contact us.

Questions people ask

Does SRJC have student housing?

The college offers on-campus housing in Santa Rosa; check SRJC for current availability, costs and eligibility.

How far apart are the two campuses?

They’re in different cities, connected by Highway 101 and the SMART train, so choose housing near the campus where you’ll spend most of your time.

What does it cost to own near the campus?

Beyond the mortgage, budget for property tax at roughly 1% of the price plus local charges, insurance, and the Santa Rosa and county transfer taxes at closing. Older homes near the campus may also need foundation, wiring or sewer lateral work, so get inspections and repair estimates before you remove contingencies.

Is it a good idea to buy a rental near SRJC?

It can be if the numbers work with real rents and today’s costs. Demand is steady, but rent-cap and just-cause rules apply to many units.

Sources & notes

• SRJC; SRJC 2025 Fast Facts; Census QuickFacts: Santa Rosa
• C.A.R. September 2026; Redfin: Petaluma; Sonoma County Transit Route 30; SMART stations
• Civil Code 1947.12; Civil Code 1946.2; HCD: ADUs; Transfer tax; EPA

Last reviewed October 2026 by Matthew Martinez.