Sebastopol, California

What It Is Like to Retire in Sebastopol

Sebastopol, California, a small town in Sonoma County, is surrounded by apple orchards and vineyards, and located just 15 miles from the Pacific Ocean. It's considered the gateway to the Sonoma Coastline, the Russian River and the Redwood Corridor.  In the early 1900's, Sebastopol was a major apple producer and became the “Gravenstein Apple Capital of World”.  Today there are more vineyards than apple orchards, and the small town of close to, 8000 people, attracts visitors for all types of outdoor adventures and recreation.  It is also host to popular cultural events and festivals, including the Gravenstein Apple Fair and the Celtic Music Festival, both held annually.

Luther Burbank, a world-famous horticulturist, developed and grew thousands of hybrid and cross-breed plants at his Gold Ridge Experiment Farm here.  Sebastopol is also considered home to Cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, creator of the comic strip Peanuts, who lived here during the 1960's, and for whom the Sonoma County Airport is named. Picture of Main Street and photo of the Peace Garden at Eagle Ranch Regional Park courtesy of Wikipedia and Stephen Gold (public domain).

Where to Retire in Sebastopol and Home Prices

Zillow reports the median home value in Sebastopol to be $1,066,797 in early late 2021.

What Is Special about Sebastopol

Livability.com named Sebastopol one of the top 10 Small Towns for Livability due to its high clutural and outdoor amenities, and its small-town charm.  Sebastopol is located 15 miles from the Pacific coast between Santa Rosa and the Bodega Bay, and 50 miles north of San Francisco.

What Is Not Special about Sebastopol

High cost of living; it is a small town that draws a lot of visitors; It may be considered too liberal for some.

Who Will Like Retirement in Sebastopol

Retireee who are looking for a small, semi-urban town not far from the coast would enjoy living here. Sebastopol offers a mild climate and a pretty countryside dotted with apple orchards and wineries.  There is a lot of outdoor recreation including hiking and biking, and a very active Community Cultural Center, along with wineries to visit, shopping and art galleries.

Local Economy Is Driven by

Retail and Manufacturing

Climate and Physical Environment

The average January temperature is about 45 degrees and July's average is about 68 degrees.

Restaurants & Cultural Scene

Sebastopol is home to several parks, trails, historic buildings, museums and art galleries. The town is host to popular festivals throughout the year including the annual Russian Jazz and Celtic Festival and the very popular Apple Blossom Festival, a weekend event held each summer. The Sebastopol Community Cultural Center offers a variety of entertainment including music, concerts and classes, and The Center for the Arts presents exhibits, performances and classes.  

Crime

Sebastopol has a low crime rate.

Medical facilities

Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital

Transportation

The Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport is 11 miles away in Santa Rosa.  International airports are approximately 70 miles away in either Oakland or San Francisco.  Amtrak services Santa Rosa, about 7 miles from Sebastopol.

Valuable Links

Sebastopol Chamber of Commerce Sebastopol Apple Blossem Festival Sebastopol Community Cultural Center