Living in Napa, CA
Napa is the 501st-largest city in the US, home to about 77,000 people in 2025. It has lost 3.5% of its population since 2020. Prices across the metro area run above the national average (112.6 on an index where the US is 100).
- Population, 2025
- 76,562-3.5% since 2020
- Median home value
- $856,4008.1 years of median income
- Median rent
- $2,282/morent plus utilities
- Household income
- $105,963median, per year
- Price level
- 112.6US average = 100
- January / July highs
- 59° / 83°lows 40° / 56°
- Average commute
- 24 min14% work from home
- State income tax
- 13.3%top rate, graduated
Been to Napa?
Added to your city passport. See things to do
Added to the wishlist on your city passport.
County: Napa County
Time zone: Pacific Time (UTC-8, UTC-7 in summer)
Elevation: about 20 ft
Metro area: Napa, CA
Cost of living in Napa
The median home in Napa is worth $856,400 and the median household earns $105,963 a year, so a typical home costs about 8.1 years of income. Median gross rent (rent plus utilities) is $2,282 a month, about 26% of the median household's income. BEA puts overall prices in the Napa, CA metro area at 112.6, with housing at 197.4 and goods at 105.2 (US = 100). In practice, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced place stretches about as far as $84,400 here. California taxes wages at a top rate of 13.3%. The average combined state and local sales tax in California is 9.03%.
What would my salary be worth in Napa?
Napa weather
Average highs run from 59°F in January to 83°F in July, and January nights average 40°F. It gets 27 inches of rain and melted snow a year, with almost no snow. Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter. The most comfortable months are March to November.
Month-by-month weather and the best time to visit Napa
People and work
The median resident is 41.5 years old, and 38% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 59% of households own their home. The average one-way commute is 24 minutes; 14% of workers work from home.
- Median age
- 41.5489th youngest of 546
- Bachelor's or higher
- 38%adults 25+
- Homeowners
- 59%of households
- People per sq mile
- 4,24118.1 sq mi of land
- Take transit to work
- 1%2% walk, 0.8% bike
- Unemployment
- 5.7%2020-2024 average
- Poverty rate
- 8.5%of residents
- Typical home built
- 1974median year
Who moves to Napa, and where people go
From farther away, newcomers most often come from Los Angeles (Los Angeles County), San Diego (San Diego County) and Anaheim (Orange County). People who leave for somewhere more than 100 miles away most often head to Los Angeles (Los Angeles County), San Diego (San Diego County) and Seattle (King County). See the map and full lists
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years. Where Americans are moving.
Natural hazards, home prices and air quality
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
FEMA rating for Napa County, scored against every US county. Biggest risks: drought, inland flooding, earthquake, landslide.
Home prices
-1.8% in a year
Up 17% over five years. FHFA house price index for the Napa, CA area, 2026 Q2.
FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025) combines expected losses from 18 natural hazards with how vulnerable and resilient the community is. It describes the county, not your street; check flood maps for a specific address at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
Parks and sights near Napa
The best-known parks, museums, zoos and landmarks within about 35 miles. Tap Been or Want to add them to your city passport.
- University of California-Berkeley 29 miles
- University of California-Davis 33 miles
- Diablo Valley College 25 miles
- Solano Community College 10 miles
- Los Medanos College 31 miles
- Laney College 35 miles
- Sonoma State University 22 miles
Places from Wikidata (CC0), linked to each one's official site or Wikipedia article. Check hours and fees before you go.
Airports near Napa
| Airport | Distance | Passengers boarding in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport STS | 32 mi | 382,556 |
| Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport OAK | 40 mi | 5,292,736 |
| Sacramento International Airport SMF | 47 mi | 6,679,426 |
| San Francisco International Airport SFO | 47 mi | 25,078,968 |
Federal Aviation Administration, calendar year 2024 passenger boardings (enplanements) at commercial service airports. Straight-line distance.
Colleges in and near Napa
| College | Distance | Undergrads | Net price a year | Graduate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solano Community College | 10 mi | 8,061 | $2,905 | n/a |
| Contra Costa College | 23 mi | 5,203 | $25,657 | 37% |
| Sonoma State University | 22 mi | 5,166 | $10,759 | 55% |
| Napa Valley College | 2 mi | 3,813 | $3,152 | 35% |
| Cal Poly Maritime Academy | 16 mi | 804 | $17,793 | 58% |
US Department of Education College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Net price is the average yearly cost after grants for students who get federal aid. Graduate: share finishing within 150% of normal time.
Frost dates and fall color in Napa
Half the years, the last spring night at 32°F comes before February 12, so plant tender crops after that date or wait a week or two to be safer. Fall color depends on the trees, but the US Department of Agriculture says the brightest leaves come with warm, sunny days and cool nights, and that frost ruins vivid color. Here, cool 36°F nights usually start around November 17 and the first frost comes around December 4.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for Napa State Hospital, CA, median (50%) dates. All frost dates for Napa.
Wildfire smoke in Napa
From 2021 through 2025, a smoke plume covered Napa on about 50 days a year, including about 11 days of medium or heavy smoke. Smoke high overhead can turn sunsets red without reaching the ground, so check the air quality reading before you change plans.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, daily satellite plumes over the city center, 2021 to 2025. Smoke days for every city.
Home internet in Napa
Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020-2024, table B28002, 29,984 households. Compare every city.
Public schools in Napa
Downtown Napa is in this district. Neighborhoods farther out may belong to a different one, so check the address with the district before you buy or rent.
| District | Grades | Students | Schools | Students per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Napa Valley Unified School District | K to 12 | 16,103 | 26 | 23.4 |
Other districts within 10 miles: Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District (20,359 students), Vallejo City Unified School District (9,653 students), Sonoma Valley Unified School District (3,049 students), St. Helena Unified School District (1,105 students).
National Center for Education Statistics, school district boundaries and characteristics, 2024-25 school year.
Napa's twin cities
Cities at least 250 miles away with the closest match to Napa's weather month by month and its costs (price level, home values and rent).
- Oceanside, CA69% matchCompare
- West Covina, CA69% matchCompare
- Lakewood, CA67% matchCompare
- Santa Clarita, CA65% matchCompare
Find a twin that is cheaper, warmer or cooler
Ski resorts near Napa
- Kirkwood Mountain Resort 123 miles
- Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort 124 miles
- Sierra-at-Tahoe 124 miles
- Bear Valley Mountain Resort 124 miles
Straight-line distance. All ski resorts.
Pros and cons of living in Napa
Data points come from the official sources on this page. Points marked Local come from people who live here, are read by a person before they appear, and are ranked by readers.
Pros
- Data 9 months a year have comfortable weather by our rule.
Cons
- Data Homes are expensive for local pay: the median home costs 8.1 years of median household income.
- Data Everyday prices in the metro run 13% above the US average, mostly because of housing.
- Data California's top income tax rate is 13.3%, among the highest in the country.
- Data Sales tax is high: 9.03% on average with local taxes.
- Data The population has shrunk 3.5% since 2020.
Napa report card from locals
0 of 5 reports so far. We show the Napa report card once 5 residents have rated it, so one opinion never stands in for a whole city. Live here? Add yours.
Rate Napa (2 minutes)
Lived here once? Map every city you have lived in and see how your homes compare.
Ask a local about Napa
No questions yet. Thinking about a move? Ask about neighborhoods, schools, winters, traffic or anything else, and people who live in Napa can answer.
Napa through locals' eyes
No resident photos yet. Share the view from your street, your favorite park or the city on a good day.
Share a photo
Contributions are read by a person before they appear. We remove ads, links, personal attacks and anything about private people. See the most helpful locals.
Cities near Napa
| City | Distance | Population | Home value | Price level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vallejo, CA | 13 mi | 123,287 | $589,500 | 108.5 | Compare |
| Fairfield, CA | 14 mi | 122,489 | $624,300 | 108.5 | Compare |
| Vacaville, CA | 17 mi | 103,850 | $620,900 | 108.5 | Compare |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 25 mi | 179,437 | $713,900 | 107.8 | Compare |
| Richmond, CA | 25 mi | 114,861 | $668,200 | 115.6 | Compare |
| Concord, CA | 26 mi | 123,261 | $797,600 | 115.6 | Compare |
Straight-line distance between city centers.
Cities with a similar profile
Closest match on climate, price level, size, income and median age, outside the immediate area.
Compare Napa with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Napa a good place to live?
It depends on what you need. The numbers show 9 comfortable months a year; the trade-offs are high prices, expensive homes relative to local incomes, a shrinking population. Compare Napa side by side with another city to see how it stacks up for you.
What is the population of Napa?
The Census Bureau estimates Napa had 76,562 residents on July 1, 2025, compared with 79,301 in April 2020 (-3.5%).
How much do you need to earn to live in Napa?
Using BEA price levels, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $84,400 in the Napa area. The median household here earns $105,963.
When is the best time to visit Napa?
By the 1991-2020 climate normals, March to November are the most comfortable months. July averages 83°F and January 59°F for daytime highs.
What county is Napa in?
Napa is in Napa County, California. Source: Census Bureau 2020 geography.
What time zone is Napa in?
Napa is on Pacific Time (UTC-8, or UTC-7 during daylight saving time from March to November).
What is the elevation of Napa?
About 20 feet above sea level at the city center. Elevation varies across the city.
Does California have a state income tax?
Yes. California has a graduated income tax with a top rate of 13.3% for 2026. Some cities add a local income tax, which is not included here.
Sources
Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates (July 1, 2025). Income, housing, education and commuting: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for the city of Napa. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Napa, CA metro area. Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Napa State Hospital, CA station. Taxes: Tax Foundation 2026. How we get our numbers.