Population 67,985 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Petaluma
Household size in Petaluma
| Period | Petaluma | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.66 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.70 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.68 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.49 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.17 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Petaluma run a little small, averaging 2.49 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size has dropped from 2.66 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Petaluma has smaller households than the great majority of California cities.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Petaluma
| Period | Petaluma | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.5 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.6 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.5 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.0 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 46.5, Petaluma is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 40.5, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the southeast and oldest in the northwest.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Petaluma
| Period | Petaluma | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.1% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.0% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.4% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Petaluma: 7.4% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 0.9 points, in line with the national trend.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Petaluma
Renters in Petaluma
| Period | Petaluma | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.5% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 34.9% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.5% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 35.9% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Petaluma is about as common as it is nationally: 35.9% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in California as a whole (44.1%). Among homeowners, 32.4% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 3.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Petaluma
| Period | Petaluma | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.5% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.9% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.4% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 5.3% of homes in Petaluma are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Vacancy is down 1.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Petaluma
| Period | Petaluma | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1975 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1978 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The typical home in Petaluma was built around 1978, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). The median year built has moved up from 1974 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the southwest.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Petaluma
| Period | Petaluma | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,441 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,526 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,906 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,480 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,039 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Petaluma costs $2,480 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,039 a month since 2006–10, up 72%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 32.4% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the center; the highest are in the north.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Petaluma
Bachelor's degrees in Petaluma
| Period | Petaluma | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.2% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 36.6% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 39.9% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 42.8% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.6 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over four in ten adults 25 and older in Petaluma (42.8%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 8.6 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the east.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Petaluma
| Period | Petaluma | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.8% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.3% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.9% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.5% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Petaluma is a bit above the national rate: 91.5% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 2.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Petaluma
| Period | Petaluma | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.6% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.9% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Petaluma is close to the national rate: 4.9% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is lower than in California as a whole (6.6%). Unemployment has fallen 2.0 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Petaluma compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petaluma | 2.49 | 46.5 | 7.4% | 35.9% | 5.3% | 1978 | $2,480 | 42.8% | 91.5% | 4.9% |
| Lakeville | 2.62 | 44.3 | 4.9% | 31.2% | 8.1% | 1958 | $2,209 | 47.5% | 93.8% | 8.2% |
| Penngrove | 2.46 | 46.4 | 4.0% | 22.0% | 6.6% | 1981 | $1,874 | 49.2% | 95.3% | 6.1% |
| Cotati | 2.36 | 41.2 | 7.8% | 41.0% | 4.1% | 1980 | $2,250 | 32.9% | 91.9% | 3.5% |
| Rohnert Park | 2.60 | 35.1 | 11.0% | 50.9% | 4.6% | 1984 | $2,465 | 32.5% | 89.6% | 6.4% |
| El Verano | 2.58 | 60.6 | 2.0% | 8.4% | 22.9% | 1973 | $3,114 | 48.5% | 93.1% | 3.5% |
| Eldridge | 2.31 | 49.5 | 4.6% | 26.3% | 12.7% | 1974 | $2,189 | 40.2% | 92.2% | 10.2% |
| Sonoma | 2.41 | 51.4 | 7.9% | 33.0% | 12.9% | 1976 | $2,230 | 40.0% | 89.3% | 6.7% |
| Schellville | 1.97 | 47.8 | 14.0% | 37.2% | 23.7% | 1959 | $2,822 | 39.4% | 90.8% | 16.3% |
| Glen Ellen | 2.12 | 57.7 | 4.3% | 28.0% | 11.6% | 1967 | $1,747 | 62.6% | 96.1% | 5.7% |
| Fallon | 2.67 | 43.1 | 1.8% | 34.0% | 53.1% | 1976 | $3,501 | 51.5% | 89.4% | 0.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Eastvale, CA · Manassas, VA · Ames, IA · Huntersville, NC · Great Falls, MT · Fayetteville, GA · Ewa Beach, HI · East Orange, NJ · Eagan, MN · Dundalk, MD
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Petaluma. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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