City · California
Petaluma, California
Petaluma, city, in Sonoma County, California. Petaluma had 59,688 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 59,776 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 59,247 (±61). GEOID 0656784.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
59,688
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 59,776 · ACS 2020-2024: 59,247 ±61
Median household income
$115,430
±$6,370 (90% margin)
California: $99,122
Median home value
$878,600
±$13,008 (90% margin)
California: $734,700
Median gross rent
$2,440
±$134 (90% margin)
California: $2,036
Where is Petaluma and what county is it in?
Petaluma is a city in Sonoma County, California. It covers 14.4 square miles of land, 4,147 residents per square mile in 2020.
Petaluma is in the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Petaluma, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 59,688 people lived in Petaluma on July 1, 2025, down 0.2% since 2020, in line with California (−0.5%). The 2020 Census counted 59,776 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 59,247 (±61).
| Measure | Petaluma | Sonoma County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 59,247 ±61 | 485,040 | −1,520 |
| Households | 24,239 ±498 | 190,998 | +1,584 |
| Average household size | 2.42 ±0.05 | 2.49 | −0.23 |
| Housing units | 25,107 ±463 | 207,699 | +1,816 |
Petaluma's population since 2000
From 54,548 in 2000 to 59,688 in 2025: up 9.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Petaluma as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Petaluma?
The median resident of Petaluma is 45.3 years old; 18.2% are under 18 and 22.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 66.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 21.7%. 15.3% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Petaluma | Sonoma County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.3 ±1.3 | 42.9 | +3.6 |
| Under 18 years | 18.2% ±1.0 pts | 19.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 22.1% ±1.3 pts | 21.5% | – |
| Male | 49.0% ±1.2 pts | 49.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 21.7% ±1.9 pts | 30.0% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 66.8% ±2.1 pts | 57.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.2% ±0.5 pts | 1.5% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 3.7% ±0.8 pts | 4.3% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.2 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.7% ±1.1 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 15.3% ±1.3 pts | 16.8% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 19.3% ±2.1 pts | 27.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.5% ±0.9 pts | 4.8% | – |
| With a disability | 11.9% ±1.0 pts | 12.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.3% ±1.0 pts | 5.1% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.0% ±1.2 pts | 88.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 43.8% ±1.9 pts | 38.5% | +3.4 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 15.5% ±1.6 pts | 14.6% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 91.3% ±1.4 pts | 88.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.1% ±0.5 pts | 0.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Petaluma earn?
Half of Petaluma's 24,239 households earn less than $115,430 a year (±$6,370), against $104,674 in Sonoma County and $99,122 in California. In 2015-2019 it was $112,643 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 6.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Petaluma | Sonoma County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $115,430 ±$6,370 | $104,674 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $147,005 ±$6,247 | $142,354 | – |
| Per capita income | $60,931 ±$2,529 | $56,640 | +$4,990 |
| People below the poverty line | 6.5% ±1.3 pts | 8.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 4.6% ±2.4 pts | 9.6% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 7.2% ±1.6 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.4% ±1.5 pts | 97.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.9% ±1.5 pts | 94.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Petaluma?
Owners occupy 64.5% of Petaluma's occupied homes and renters 35.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $878,600 by its owner (±$13,008). The median renter pays $2,440 a month including utilities, and 47.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Petaluma | Sonoma County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $878,600 ±$13,008 | $815,500 | +$98,463 |
| Median gross rent | $2,440 ±$134 | $2,158 | +$188 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 47.4% ±4.8 pts | 44.1% | +6.8 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,098 ±$107 | $3,040 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 64.5% ±2.4 pts | 62.6% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 35.5% ±2.4 pts | 37.4% | – |
| Housing units | 25,107 ±463 | 207,699 | +1,816 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 1.9% ±1.8 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 69.6% ±2.6 pts | 66.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 3.1% ±0.6 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.7% ±0.5 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 7.7% ±1.4 pts | 5.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 10.8% ±1.4 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 5.2% ±1.5 pts | 4.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Petaluma building?
Builders took permits for 276 new housing units in Petaluma in 2025 (80 in single-family houses), 4.6 per 1,000 residents against 2.6 across California.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Petaluma work and get to work?
66.7% of Petaluma's workers drive alone and 20.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 30.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.6%.
| Measure | Petaluma | Sonoma County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 64.4% ±1.7 pts | 64.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% ±1.0 pts | 5.7% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 66.7% ±2.2 pts | 69.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.6% ±1.5 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.8% ±0.7 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Walked | 2.3% ±0.6 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Worked from home | 20.5% ±2.0 pts | 15.9% | +11.8 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 30.7 min ±1.6 | 25.1 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Petaluma?
12 census tracts lie mostly in Petaluma, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $85,858 (Tract 1506.03) to $149,250 (Tract 1506.07).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 1506.03Sonoma County | 6,645 | $85,858 |
| Tract 1507.01Sonoma County | 5,332 | $119,219 |
| Tract 1506.09Sonoma County | 5,186 | $103,750 |
| Tract 1506.02Sonoma County | 4,783 | $112,415 |
| Tract 1509.01Sonoma County | 4,990 | $110,078 |
| Tract 1506.11Sonoma County | 4,609 | $130,350 |
| Tract 1506.01Sonoma County | 4,085 | $108,134 |
| Tract 1508Sonoma County | 4,543 | $109,737 |
| Tract 1507.02Sonoma County | 4,879 | $140,729 |
| Tract 1506.07Sonoma County | 4,334 | $149,250 |
| Tract 1506.10Sonoma County | 3,647 | $143,324 |
| Tract 1509.02Sonoma County | 3,629 | $118,300 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Petaluma) · Census block assignment files
How does Petaluma compare with other places in California?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Petaluma is the 683rd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 152nd-most populous of 483 in California.
Petaluma ranks 314th of 1,037 places in California with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 152nd | 483 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 177th | 469 |
| Residents per square mile | 307th | 1,077 |
| Median household income | 314th | 1,037 |
| Per capita income | 264th | 1,073 |
| Median home value | 291st | 1,054 |
| Median gross rent | 219th | 987 |
| Poverty rate | 678th | 836 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 301st | 988 |
| Median age | 302nd | 1,075 |
| Owner-occupied share | 572nd | 1,064 |
| Work from home | 287th | 822 |
| Travel time to work | 347th | 1,069 |
Petaluma's figures with every place in California (CSV)
Every place in California, sortable · Compare Petaluma with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Petaluma?
5 of the 57 figures for Petaluma on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Petaluma are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Petaluma.