Healdsburg is a small, tourist community in Sonoma County in the heart of California’s beautiful Wine Country. Healdsburg truly takes the pleasures of life seriously with natural beauty, world-class wineries, farm-fresh food, and friendly residents. Considering moving to Healdsburg? Get ready to experience life in what is frequently ranked as one of the Coolest Small Towns in America and one of the Best Small Towns in the U.S.
The Sonoma region is best described as a haven for wine lovers and a grown-up’s theme park with restaurants that are less pretentious than in nearby Napa Valley yet just as chic and three of America’s top wineries all within reach.
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Healdsburg, CA Population & Demographics
The population of Healdsburg, CA is 11,721 and it’s one of 30 communities in Sonoma County, CA ranging from small coastal villages and quaint towns to major cities like Santa Rosa. The city has a median age of 44.6 years old, far above the national average 36.8 years, and this reflects the community’s high share of professionals, retirees, and highly educated residents. About 28% of people in the city have at least a bachelor’s degree compared with just 19% of the United States as a whole. Healdsburg is somewhat diverse with an ethnic composition of 62.6% white alone, 33.7% Hispanic of any race, 2.2% two or more races, and 1.1% Asian.
Looking for a safe place to live and raise a family? It’s hard to beat Healdsburg’s low crime rate. This safe city has far lower reported crime rates for theft, property crime, burglary, and violent crime than the California and national averages.
Cost in Living in Healdsburg, CA
If you’re considering moving to Healdsburg, CA, you probably already know that life in central Sonoma Valley isn’t cheap. Healdsburg’s cost of living index is about 170 compared to the national average of 100 and the California average of 138. Much of this is attributed to high housing costs in Healdsburg, CA.
The average home price in Healdsburg is $647,600, nearly three times the national average, and the homeownership rate is slightly below average. Still, you can find homes that run the gamut with condos and townhomes priced below $250,000 to beautiful estates topping $3 million. You can start searching for Healdsburg, CA homes for sale to get an idea of what you can get with your budget.
So, how much does it cost to live in Healdsburg as a renter? Average rents in Healdsburg are around $1,466, according to RentCafe. That makes the city more affordable than nearby Santa Rosa where rent tops $2,200.
Best Healdsburg Neighborhoods
As a small city with just 4.5 square miles of area, Healdsburg doesn’t have many neighborhoods. That doesn’t mean you don’t have plenty of choice in where to live in Healdsburg, though. Every area of the city is highly rated for safety, great schools, and outdoor recreation.
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One of the best places to live in Healdsburg if you like to be near the action and vineyards is the City Center. This is where most of Healdsburg’s businesses are located along with a handful of homes and apartment complexes. It’s here that you’ll have the best luck finding an apartment for rent in Healdsburg.
The Powell Ave/University St neighborhood is home to the Healdsburg Golf Club at Tayman Park and many residential developments with single-family homes. There are plenty of parks to explore in the neighborhood and one of the city’s famous vineyards.
The Lytton/Simi area is the largest area of Healdsburg and it’s home to the most open space, beautiful views, and spacious homes. If you want room to explore and more privacy from your neighbors, you’ll probably want to be in this area farther from the city center.
Healdsburg, CA Weather to Expect
Living in Healdsburg, CA means enjoying Sonoma Valley’s famous weather. You can expect dry summers that can be warm to quite hot and wet, cool winters. Even in the dead of winter, temperatures tend to stay between 38°F and 58°F. The average high in the summer is around 89°F. It very rarely snows in Sonoma Valley but the region does get plenty of rain in the chilly months with an average of 42″ of rain per year, more than average for the United States.
With the region’s natural beauty and moderate, coastal weather that stays temperate year-round, you’re able to spend time enjoying the great outdoors even in the winter — as long as you bring a raincoat!
Fun Things to Do & Top Restaurants in Healdsburg
Considering relocating to Healdsburg, CA? You’ll find endless things to do in Healdsburg with kids or the new friends you’ll make. Healdsburg is filled with beautiful parks, award-winning wineries, and community events plus local favorites for recreation and dining. Here are just some of the best things to do in Healdsburg once you make your big move.
Healdsburg Plaza
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The Spanish-style Healdsburg Plaza which dates to 1857 is the heart of Healdsburg and a place you’ll undoubtedly spend a lot of time. There are always things to do in Healdsburg Plaza with wine-tasting rooms, highly rated restaurants, and boutiques a short walk away.
Healdsburg Ave & Matheson St, Healdsburg, CA 95448 (707) 433-6935
Williamson Wines
Stop by the Williamson Wines tasting room for award-winning wine and amazing food or stop by for regular quarterly and monthly wine club events that bring wine lovers in the community together.
134 Matheson St, Healdsburg, CA 95448 (707) 433-1500
Campo Fina
Campo Fina is what a great Italian eatery should be. This quaint eatery is just off the Healdsburg Plaza and boasts wood-fired pizza, small plates to enjoy over drinks, a covered patio in the back, and even bocce ball.
330 Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg, CA 95448 (707) 395-4640
Bravas Bar de Tapas
Bravadas Bar de Tapas delivers modern and traditional Spanish tapas-style dining with a full bar and patio seating. It’s definitely one of the best things to do in Healdsburg with friends and it’s been named one of America’s top 2 tapas restaurants.
420 Center St, Healdsburg, CA 95448 (707) 433-7700
Healdsburg Jobs & Commuting
Ready to explore the best jobs in Healdsburg? Whether you’re moving to Healdsburg for a job or planning a career change once you arrive, you’ll find a strong jobs market in the area. Healdsburg has a median household income of $77,928, exceeding both the average for California and the entire U.S. The city has experienced job growth of more than 4.5% in recent years with common industries that include farming, fishing, and forestry; management, food preparation, sales, administrative support, and health care.
The average commute time for Healdsburg residents is 22 minutes, still under the national average of almost 26 minutes. While you can find employment opportunities in Healdsburg, many residents turn to Healdsburg for its quiet lifestyle and convenient access to larger jobs markets in Santa Rosa and even San Francisco. Santa Rosa is a mere 15 miles away and you can see what your commute would look like to travel from Healdsburg, CA to Santa Rosa at this link.
A small subset of residents choose to commute to San Francisco about 69 miles away due to the high cost of living in the Bay Area. These long-distance commuters or “super commuters” account for about 3.5% of the workforce in Sonoma County.
Healdsburg, CA Schools
If you’re relocating to Healdsburg, CA with kids, or planning to start a family, the quality of the local schools is probably a major concern. Many of the public schools in Healdsburg are rated above average and there are several private schools available like The Healdsburg School, the Rio Lindo Adventist Academy, and the St. John the Baptist Catholic School. When living in Healdsburg, you’ll be served by the Healdsburg Unified School District which includes the Healdsburg High School with an enrollment of more than 600 students and an above-average rating for college readiness and state tests.
In terms of higher education, Healdsburg is located near several colleges and universities:
- Santa Rosa Junior College (14 miles)
- Sonoma State University (24 miles)
- Pacific Union College (42 miles)
- Mendocino College (49 miles)
- Dominican University of California (51 miles)
Living in Healdsburg Tips
- Stop by Bravas Bar de Tapas, one of the best tapas restaurants in the U.S.
- Choose between a top-rated public school system or a number of private schools
- Work in Healdsburg or enjoy a short commute to Santa Rosa
- Visit the city’s wineries, among the best in the entire country
- Have fun outdoors at the city’s parks, community pools, and golf club
Ready to experience the great quality of life waiting for you as you prepare to move to Healdsburg? Let the professional movers at Mentors Moving & Storage make your transition easy and stress-free. Give us a call at 661-215-6023 so we can help with relocating to Healdsburg, CA.
