RANK #919 / 1001 NAT · #37 / 43 CA · POP 134,869
1YR FORECAST: -1.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: +11%
Napa County, California, is defined by its Mediterranean climate, which contributes to its renowned wine industry and picturesque landscape of rolling vineyards and oak-studded mountains. The city of Napa, the county seat, sits about an hour northeast of San Francisco. Commuting within the county is primarily by car, though Vine Transit offers bus services connecting towns like Napa, Yountville, and St. Helena, with connections to regional transit. Outdoor recreation is a significant draw, with opportunities for hiking and biking on trails in parks such as Bothe-Napa Valley State Park and Alston Park, kayaking on the Napa River, and water sports on Lake Berryessa. The county also boasts unique biodiversity, including redwood stands and diverse plant and animal species.
Life in Napa County offers a blend of refined living and a strong sense of community, often centered around the agricultural and hospitality sectors. The economy is heavily influenced by its wine and grape industry, which accounts for a substantial portion of local employment and wages. While the region has seen job growth, particularly in leisure services and manufacturing, there's an increasing focus on diversifying the economy, with healthcare emerging as a growing sector. Public schools in the county are highly rated, with districts like Napa Valley Unified School District serving many communities.
Napa County is one of 78 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of -1.7% runs below the profile's typical -0.8%.
See all 78 Western Premium Correction counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Prices detached from rents
Housing looks overvalued at 20.3x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Napa County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Calistoga Resiliency Center
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and Energy Vault Holdings
|
$293M | Operating |
|
Napa Renewable Natural Gas Project
City of Napa
|
$50M | Planned |
|
American Canyon Solar Project
Renewable Properties / MCE Clean Energy
|
$50M | Completed |
|
916 Trancas Street Mixed-Use Development
Mark Shakeri
|
$50M | Proposed |
|
Napa Data Center (Healthcare Provider)
Confidential Large Healthcare Provider
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
Napa County ADU Accelerator System
Napa County
|
$50M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Napa County scores just 7/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #919 of 1001 counties. Job growth at -1.5% and median household income of $111,471 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Affordability is a real challenge in Napa County. The median home is valued at $869,500 — with an income-to-home-value ratio of just 0.13, that's significantly harder to afford than in most U.S. counties. Median rent runs $2,237/month.
Both population (-0.9% YoY) and employment (-1.5%) are contracting in Napa County, though housing tells its own story with values moving -1.7% over the past 12 months. This is a county where the trend lines are pointing in the wrong direction.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.76% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Napa County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.