Sonoma County Real Estate Market Report

Sonoma County’s median single-family price was $875,000 in September 2026, up 10.1% from a year earlier, while sales fell 3.4%, according to the California Association of Realtors. Homes are selling faster than last year, and competition varies widely by town: Petaluma is among the most competitive markets in the county, while Healdsburg and the City of Sonoma are slower.

This report covers prices and pace across the county, the housing projects and policy changes to watch, and the wine and insurance trends that affect values. It’s updated as new data comes out; this edition reflects data available on October 22, 2026.

County snapshot

For comparison, the statewide median was $899,720 (up 1.7%) and the Bay Area median $1,325,000 (up 1.9%) in September; statewide, the Unsold Inventory Index was 3.7 months and the Bay Area’s 2.6 months (C.A.R.).

Town by town

Days on market a year earlier are in parentheses. Small towns have few sales a month, so medians swing with the mix of homes sold; Healdsburg’s and Sonoma’s medians per square foot rose 18.4% and 15.7% even as Sonoma’s overall median fell. Petaluma, with more sales and more homes at lower price points, shows the strongest bidding. For deeper city coverage, see our Sonoma market update, how competitive Sonoma is and our Healdsburg guide.

Housing and development to watch

• Sonoma Developmental Center (Glen Ellen): the county approved a specific plan in December 2022 with a base of 620 homes and 700 acres of open space (Permit Sonoma). The current Builder’s Remedy application proposes 990 homes, 200 of them affordable, plus commercial space and a 150-room hotel; the county says its draft environmental report won’t be ready in 2026 (Permit Sonoma).
• The Springs Specific Plan: about 178 acres north of the City of Sonoma along Highway 12, with room for more than 700 homes under mixed-use zoning; still in environmental review (Permit Sonoma).
• SMART rail: the Petaluma North station opened January 10, 2025, and a Healdsburg station is anticipated in late 2028 (SMART; SMART stations).
• Vacation rentals: the county added cap and exclusion zones and a business license in 2023, and the City of Sonoma allows no new vacation rentals. See our vacation rental rules guide.

Insurance and fire maps

In May 2026, the California Department of Insurance said six of the state’s 10 largest home insurers had committed to stay and grow, and new FAIR Plan residential policies had slowed to about 16,000 in the first quarter, compared with 35,000 to 50,000 a quarter in 2024 and most of 2025 (California Department of Insurance). CAL FIRE’s updated fire hazard maps for cities, released in February 2025, are now part of local disclosures, and in High and Very High zones sellers must provide a recent defensible-space inspection or agree that the buyer will bring the property into compliance within a year (State Fire Marshal).

The wine economy

Sonoma County’s 2024 winegrape crop was worth $626.6 million, down 12.6% (Sonoma County), and Sonoma and Marin grapes averaged $2,762.88 a ton in 2025, down 6% (2025 Grape Crush Report). About 2,700 bearing acres were pulled in the county between October 2024 and August 2025 (Sonoma Index-Tribune). The soft grape market affects vineyard land more than homes, but it’s worth watching in wine-dependent areas. Our guide to vineyards for sale in Sonoma County has more.

What it means

• Buyers: expect competition on well-priced homes in Petaluma and other commuter towns; in higher-priced areas there’s more room to negotiate. Get an insurance quote early. Start with our guide to buying a home in Sonoma County and our mortgages and affordability guide.
• Sellers: price to recent sales in your town, not the county headline, and prepare the fire and defensible-space paperwork before you list. Start with a home valuation.

For the county’s towns and communities, see our Sonoma County guide, or contact us for figures on a specific neighborhood. For help reading these numbers in a particular town, our Sonoma County agents guide lists licensed agents by the areas they serve.

Questions people ask

Are Sonoma County home prices going up?

Year over year, yes: both C.A.R.’s and Redfin’s county medians rose through September 2026. Month-to-month figures are noisy.

Which town is most competitive?

Of the towns above, Petaluma, with a Redfin Compete Score of 88 and more than half of homes selling over list.

Why do C.A.R. and Redfin show different medians?

C.A.R. reports existing single-family homes for one month; Redfin’s county figure covers all home types over three months. Neither is wrong. Use the one that matches the home you’re pricing, and compare like with like over time.

Is inventory rising?

Statewide, active listings were up only 0.5% from a year earlier in September 2026. Local inventory changes week to week, so ask us for current counts in your town and price range.

How often is this report updated?

We refresh it as new monthly data is released.

Sources & notes

• C.A.R. September 2026; Redfin for Sonoma County, Petaluma, Healdsburg and Sonoma (retrieved October 22, 2026); Freddie Mac
• Permit Sonoma: SDC; Springs Specific Plan; SMART Petaluma North; SMART stations
• California Department of Insurance; OSFM AB 38 bulletin
• Sonoma County crop report; Grape Crush Report; Index-Tribune

Market figures change monthly. Last reviewed October 2026 by Matthew Martinez.