City · 59,247 residents · Sonoma County, California
Petaluma, California
In Petaluma, a typical home is worth $878,600 and typical rent is $2,440 a month. Compared with all of Sonoma County, typical rent is 13% higher and typical household income is 10% higher.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $833,552 to $895,482.
Typical rent
$2,869a month
▲ 6.3% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $2,409 to $2,869.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Petaluma is in Sonoma County. The FHA loan limit ($897,000 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Sonoma County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Nearby, in Rohnert Park, the typical home value is $666,300: 24% less than in Petaluma ($878,600).
2
Nearby, in Boyes Hot Springs, the typical rent is $1,876: 23% less than in Petaluma ($2,440).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Petaluma
What homes there are in Petaluma, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Petaluma
Sonoma County
California
United States
Kind of home: Petaluma and its comparisons
Measure
Petaluma
Sonoma County
California
United States
Detached house
70%
67%
57%
61%
Attached house
7%
8%
7%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
5%
7%
8%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
16%
14%
24%
19%
Mobile home
3%
5%
4%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
0%
As in Sonoma County, most homes in Petaluma are detached houses (70%).
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Petaluma
Sonoma County
California
United States
Year built: Petaluma and its comparisons
Measure
Petaluma
Sonoma County
California
United States
Before 1960
21%
20%
27%
26%
1960–1979
31%
32%
29%
24%
1980–1999
30%
30%
25%
25%
2000–2009
9%
10%
11%
14%
2010 or later
8%
7%
8%
11%
The typical year built in Petaluma is 1979, about the same as in Sonoma County (1979).
Homes in Petaluma are bigger: 66% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Sonoma County, 56%.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limit
Under $100K2%
$100K–$200K2%
$200K–$300K2%
$300K–$500K2%
$500K–$750K20%
$750K–$1M41%
FHA limit: $897,000
$1M or more30%
Value of owner-occupied homes: Petaluma and its comparisons
Measure
Petaluma
Under $100K
2%
$100K–$200K
2%
$200K–$300K
2%
$300K–$500K
2%
$500K–$750K
20%
$750K–$1M
41%
$1M or more
30%
With an FHA loan, the cap for Sonoma County is $897,000. About 53% of owner-occupied homes in Petaluma are worth less than that.
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$9996%
$1,000–$1,49911%
$1,500–$1,99912%
$2,000–$2,49918%
$2,500–$2,99918%
$3,000 or more30%
Monthly rent with utilities: Petaluma and its comparisons
Measure
Petaluma
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
6%
$1,000–$1,499
11%
$1,500–$1,999
12%
$2,000–$2,499
18%
$2,500–$2,999
18%
$3,000 or more
30%
With a mortgage
$3,098 a month
Sonoma County: $3,040 a month
Without a mortgage
$909 a month
Sonoma County: $927 a month
Owners with a mortgage
70%
Sonoma County: 66%
In Petaluma, 70% of owners have a mortgage; their typical cost is $3,098 a month, about the same as in Sonoma County.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Petaluma+39%
Sonoma County+34%
California+46%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Petaluma+33%
Sonoma County+33%
California+36%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Petaluma+26%
Sonoma County+29%
California+32%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Petaluma and its comparisons
Measure
Petaluma
Sonoma County
California
United States
Typical home value
+39%
+34%
+46%
+53%
Typical rent
+33%
+33%
+36%
+33%
Typical household income
+26%
+29%
+32%
+29%
The typical home value in Petaluma rose 39% since 2015–2019, more than in Sonoma County (34%).
Much as in Sonoma County, the typical rent in Petaluma rose 33% since 2015–2019.
Here income did not keep up with housing: it rose 26%, while home values changed +39% and rent +33%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Petaluma and its comparisons
Measure
Petaluma
Sonoma County
California
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
2.7%
4.2%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
0.6%
0.8%
0.9%
More than one person per room
3.6%
4.8%
8.2%
3.4%
People per household
2.42
2.49
2.84
2.53
Drive alone
67%
69%
66%
69%
Carpool
8%
9%
10%
9%
Public transit
2%
1%
3%
3%
Walk or bike
3%
3%
3%
3%
Work from home
21%
16%
17%
15%
Other means
1%
1%
2%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Fewer households are short on space in Petaluma: 3.6% have more than one person per room; in Sonoma County, 4.8%.
By size, households in Petaluma look like those in Sonoma County: 2.42 people on average.
In Petaluma, 21% of workers work from home, more than in Sonoma County (16%).
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Petaluma?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Petaluma, worth $878,600, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 75% of the typical household income in Petaluma, which is $115,430 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $309,259 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Sonoma County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Petaluma. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $30,751 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$7,216
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$862,686
Total interest
$1,241,203
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $14,837 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $2,693 a month
Tight
$2,693 to $3,463 a month
Hard
more than $3,463 a month
Your payment · 75%
Compared with the typical household income in Petaluma ($115,430 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$5,844
Property tax
$476
Home insurance
$366
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$530
You need at least $30,751 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $7,216; principal and interest $5,844.
The city and its county
Petaluma and Sonoma County
Petaluma is in Sonoma County, California. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Petaluma
Map of Sonoma County, California, with Petaluma marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Petaluma
Sonoma County
Other cities with a page
Petaluma's own numbers
Typical home value
$878,600
Typical monthly rent
$2,440
Typical yearly household income
$115,430
Households that own their home
65%
Effective property tax rate
0.65%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Sonoma County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$897,000
Conventional limit, one unit
$897,000
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,819
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+25%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.4%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Sonoma County.
A typical home in Petaluma is worth $878,600: 8% above the county and 20% above California. With the typical household income in Petaluma ($115,430 a year), a typical home costs 7.6 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Petaluma7.6 years
Sonoma7.8 years
California7.4 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Sonoma County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Sonoma County rose 60% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Sonoma County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Sonoma County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +9.0% +9.0% 2016
2017: +7.7% +7.7% 2017
2018: +8.6% +8.6% 2018
2019: +0.1% +0.1% 2019
2020: +0.2% +0.2% 2020
2021: +8.4% +8.4% 2021
2022: +10.5% +10.5% 2022
2023: +1.6% +1.6% 2023
2024: +2.4% +2.4% 2024
2025: +0.5% +0.5% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Sonoma County, California and the United States
Period
County
California
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+0.5%
+0.8%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+25%
+40%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+60%
+80%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Petaluma next to Sonoma County, California and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Petaluma$878,600
Sonoma$815,500
California$734,700
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Petaluma$2,440
Sonoma$2,158
California$2,036
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Petaluma$115,430
Sonoma$104,674
California$99,122
United States$80,734
See the full table
Petaluma next to Sonoma County and California
Measure
Petaluma
Sonoma County
California
U.S.
Typical home value
$878,600 ▲8% above the county
$815,500
$734,700
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$2,440 ▲13% above the county
$2,158
$2,036
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$115,430 ▲10% above the county
$104,674
$99,122
$80,734
Households that own their home
65% ▲2 points above the county
63%
56%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$5,720
$5,695
$5,124
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.65% ▼0.05 points below the county
0.7%
0.7%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
57% ▲3 points above the county
55%
55%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Sonoma County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Petaluma
For a typical $878,600 home in Petaluma, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Petaluma's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$7,216a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$30,751
Cash to close
$57,109
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $530
Conventional, 5% down$6,914a month
Down payment
$43,930
Cash to close
$70,288
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $417
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$5,604a month
Down payment
$175,720
Cash to close
$202,078
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$6,416a month
Down payment
$131,790
Cash to close
$158,148
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Petaluma
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$7,216
$30,751
$862,686
7.18%
FHA MIP · $530
$57,109
580
Conventional, 5% down
$6,914
$43,930
$834,670
7.18%
PMI · $417
$70,288
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$5,604
$175,720
$702,880
7.18%
None
$202,078
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$6,416
$131,790
$746,810
8.18%
None
$158,148
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Petaluma is $2,440 a month: 13% above the county. In Petaluma, 57% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Sonoma County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($2,819 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $54.21 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Sonoma County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$1,980
$38.08
$79,200
1 bedroom
$2,155
$41.44
$86,200
2 bedrooms
$2,819
$54.21
$112,760
3 bedrooms
$3,903
$75.06
$156,120
4 bedrooms
$4,295
$82.60
$171,800
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Petaluma
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Petaluma has 2 ZIP codes with their own.
For 2 bedrooms it runs from $3,250 in 94952 to $3,390 in 94954.
2 of the 2 are above the fair market rent for Sonoma County ($2,819).
Fair market rent by ZIP code, HUD area and size in Petaluma, fiscal year 2027. A ZIP code that crosses a HUD area line appears once per area.
94952
San Francisco, CA
$2,240
$2,680
$3,250
$4,150
$4,570
94954
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$2,380
$2,590
$3,390
$4,690
$5,160
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
94952 $3,250$4,150
94954 $3,390$4,690
2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Petaluma when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 20 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Petaluma. These are the largest.
Vintage Chateau Senior Apts333 N McDowell Blvd, Petaluma 94954240 homes, 238 low-income · 1 bd: 144 · 2 bd: 96 · In service since 2000 · For older adults
Round Walk Village745 N McDowell Blvd, Petaluma 94954129 homes, 127 low-income · 1 bd: 26 · 2 bd: 50 · 3 bd: 47 · 4 bd: 6 · In service since 2013 · For families
Park Lane Apartments109 Magnolia Ave, Petaluma 9495290 homes, 89 low-income · Studio: 16 · 1 bd: 40 · 2 bd: 34 · In service since 2016 · For families(707) 762-6709
Downtown River Apts35 E Washington St, Petaluma 9495281 homes, 80 low-income · 1 bd: 8 · 2 bd: 49 · 3 bd: 24 · In service since 2005 · For families
Corona Ranch990 Ely Rd N, Petaluma 9495474 low-income homes · In service since 1994 · For families
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Sonoma County; none says it serves in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Petaluma or Sonoma County. The ones below are statewide in California: they work in Petaluma the same as in the rest of the state.
CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers in California.Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).
CalHFA down payment loan for first-generation buyers in California; when you sell, you repay the loan plus a share of the home's appreciation.Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).
CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers who use the CalPLUS Access mortgage (FHA or conventional).Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Petaluma or Sonoma County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Petaluma and all of Sonoma County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Petaluma?
The typical home value in Petaluma is $878,600, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Sonoma County it is $815,500.
How much does it cost to rent in Petaluma?
Typical rent in Petaluma is $2,440 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Sonoma County is $2,819.
What is the FHA loan limit in Petaluma?
Petaluma uses the FHA limit for all of Sonoma County (2026): $897,000 for a one-unit home and $1,725,050 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Petaluma?
The typical homeowner in Petaluma pays $5,720 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.65% of the home’s value; in Sonoma County, the rate is 0.7%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Petaluma?
There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Sonoma County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
