Quality of Life

Sonoma Valley is a great place to launch or locate a business.  The outstanding quality of life and high level of entrepreneurial spirit found in the Valley go hand-in-hand.  Many local businesses were started by people who came to visit and got hooked on Sonoma... or who grew up here and chose to make their living in the community.

To base your business in Sonoma is to enjoy an environment where outstanding natural resources and scenic countryside are complemented by experiences offered through more than forty tasting rooms, ten Zagat-rated restaurants, and a PGA golf course.  Opportunities to enjoy art, film, and music are shared by the valley's 40,000 residents and hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

Sonoma's small town environment and low crime rate make the community attractive to your clients, customers, and employees.  In fact, the 2009 Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, based on a survey of more than 350,000 Americans, found that people in Sonoma County are happier and healthier than anywhere else in California.  Sonoma County ranked fifth overall in the nation on the Well-Being Index.

The climate and geography of the Sonoma Valley make it not only one of the world's finest grape-growing regions, but a wonderful place to live and work year-round. Averaging 29 inches of rainfall per year, the Valley is one of the driest areas in Sonoma County.  High temperatures average 89 degrees in the summer and 58 degrees in the winter.  Sonomans can be found enjoying the outstanding climate on the bike paths, on the Overlook Trail, at the farmers market, at outdoor concerts, and at the Little League fields.

Housing options range from in-town condos and live-work units to bungalows and ranches.  Education is provided by the Sonoma Valley Unified School District and a variety of private and charter schools.

Sonoma is proud of its community hospital.  Sonoma Valley Hospital provides a wide range of healthcare services including a 24-hour emergency room and intensive care, inpatient and outpatient surgery, a birthing center, rehabilitation center, occupational health, and the Carolyn J. Stone Center for Women's Health and Wellness.

For more information about life in Sonoma County, visit Sonoma County Connections.  A relocation guide is available at the website of the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce.