What are the schools like in Petaluma, CA?

Petaluma is served primarily by Old Adobe Union. The district operates 5 elementary schools, several middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 23.8:1.

What is the median household income in Petaluma?

The median household income in Petaluma, CA is $108,527 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.7%.

What is the weather like in Petaluma, CA?

Petaluma has an average high temperature of 57.6°F in January and 80.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 28.9 inches.

Petaluma, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Petaluma, CA affordable or expensive?

Petaluma's cost of living index is 110, where 100 represents the national average. This means Petaluma is 10% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $805,800 and the median rent is $2,361 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Petaluma, CA?

Petaluma has a violent crime rate of 271.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1172.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Petaluma, CA a Good Place to Live?

Petaluma is a mid-sized city of 59,682 in California, with a median household income of $108,527 and a 4.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 110 (US average = 100), which is 10% above the national average.

Strengths: Petaluma stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, longer commutes. Whether Petaluma is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Petaluma city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 110.1

Petaluma's overall cost of living index is 110.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Petaluma costs roughly 10% more than the average American city.

Metric	Petaluma, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$805,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$2,361	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	62.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$108,527	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Petaluma's violent crime rate is 271.8 per 100,000 residents — 28% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

271.8 /100k

Property Crime

1172.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Petaluma is served primarily by Old Adobe Union. The student-to-teacher ratio is 23.8:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Petaluma, CA	National Avg
School District	Old Adobe Union	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	23.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	43.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Petaluma sees average highs of 57.6°F in January and 80.8°F in July, with 28.9 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Petaluma, CA
Average High — January	57.6°F
Average High — July	80.8°F
Annual Precipitation	28.9"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Petaluma, CA	National Avg
Population	59,682	—
Median Age	43.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	30.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	75.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	12.9%	18.9%
Asian	4.8%	6.3%
Under 18	19.5%	22.2%
65 and over	19.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Penngrove, CA 5 mi Temelec, CA 7 mi Sonoma State University, CA 7 mi Cotati, CA 7 mi Rohnert Park, CA 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Petaluma

Petaluma, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

94954

Petaluma vs Other Cities

Petaluma, CA vs Penngrove, CA Petaluma, CA vs Temelec, CA Petaluma, CA vs Sonoma State University, CA Petaluma, CA vs Cotati, CA Petaluma, CA vs Rohnert Park, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Petaluma, CA affordable or expensive?

Petaluma's cost of living index is 110, where 100 is the national average. That puts Petaluma roughly 10% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $805,800 and median rent is $2,361/month.

What is the crime rate in Petaluma, CA?

Petaluma's violent crime rate is 271.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1172.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Petaluma?

Public schools in Petaluma are operated by Old Adobe Union. The district has 5 elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 23.8:1. 43.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Petaluma, CA a good place to live?

Petaluma, CA has a population of 59,682, a median household income of $108,527, and an unemployment rate of 4.7%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Petaluma?

Petaluma averages 57.6°F in January and 80.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 28.9 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Petaluma?

Petaluma, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 94954.

What is the population of Petaluma?

The population of Petaluma, California is 59,682 with a median age of 43.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Petaluma?

Key numbers for living in Petaluma: cost of living index 110 (100 = US average), median home $805,800, median household income $108,527, crime index 65 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Petaluma side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.