Rents are right about where Petaluma's 10-year trend predicts.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,996 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Petaluma, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 43.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Petaluma, CA has changed in 5 years
Rent in Petaluma, CA has climbed 36.4% since 2021, going from about $2,197 per month to roughly $2,996 today. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $100,379 in 2021 to $115,430 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 21.4 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 60,050 to 59,247 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.3% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 40.3% to 43.8%. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Petaluma, CA market of 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Petaluma on your salary?
At $2,996/mo, how Petaluma rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Petaluma rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Petaluma. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Petaluma
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Petaluma is $2,996/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,190/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,200/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,555/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,160/mo.
At 31% of local median household income ($115,430/yr), Petaluma ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Petaluma an affordable city for renters?
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Which Petaluma neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Petaluma rent compare to other cities in California?
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What percentage of Petaluma residents rent vs. own?
How does Petaluma rent compare to the national average?
At $2,996/mo, rent takes ~31% of Petaluma's median household income ($115,430/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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