How much does it cost to rent in Petaluma, CA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Petaluma, CA is $2,927. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Petaluma cheaper than other California cities?

Petaluma falls in the middle range for California, ranking #165 out of 387 cities at $2,927/mo.

When was Petaluma rent data last updated?

Petaluma rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · CA

Petaluma

Name: Average Rent Prices in Petaluma, CA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 59,247·165th most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$2,927/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.8%

Month-over-Month

+6.1%

vs US Median

+$962

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Petaluma · $2,927

More expensive than 89% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

50/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Petaluma's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$2,927/mo

Expected by trend

$2,931/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Petaluma's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,190

1 BR

$2,555

2 BR

$3,200

3 BR

$4,160

4 BR+

$4,450

Research median

$3,200/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$35,124/yr

At $2,927/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 4.8% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.8% YoY, +6.1% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

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.

Population

59,247

Median income

$115,430

Median age

45.3

Renters

35.5%

Age distribution

18.2%

18.1%

27%

14.7%

22.1%

Under 1818.2%

18–3418.1%

35–5427%

55–6414.7%

65+22.1%

Gender

49%

51%

Male49%

Female51%

Race & ethnicity

70.1%

21.7%

White70.1%

Black1.2%

Hispanic21.7%

Asian3.8%

Other3.2%

Education (25+)

17.2%

31%

43.8%

No HS diploma8%

HS diploma17.2%

Some college31%

Bachelor's+43.8%

Housing tenure

64.5%

35.5%

Owner64.5%

Renter35.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Petaluma, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,197 → $2,927

up 33.2%

Income

$100,379 → $115,430

up 15.0%

Population

60,050 → 59,247

down 1.3%

Renter share

36.6% → 35.5%

-1.1 pts

Bachelor's+

40.3% → 43.8%

+3.5 pts

Median age

42.8 → 45.3

+2.5 yrs

Rent in Petaluma, CA has climbed 33.2% since 2021, going from about $2,197 per month to roughly $2,927 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 18.2 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.

Community

Discussions about Petaluma

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View Petaluma rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Petaluma on your salary?

At $2,927/mo, how Petaluma rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 31.5% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 44.4% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 38.5% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 21.6% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 16.9% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 47.4% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 52.5% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 42.6% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Petaluma rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Petaluma. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Petaluma

About renting in Petaluma, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Petaluma is $2,927/mo as of July 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 30% of local median household income ($115,430/yr), Petaluma ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Petaluma an affordable city for renters?

Petaluma is considered moderate for renters. At $2,927/mo, rent takes approximately 30% of the local median household income ($115,430/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Petaluma slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Petaluma?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $117,000/year (~$56/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,927/mo in Petaluma. The local median household income is $115,430/yr, meaning the typical Petaluma household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Petaluma?

Rent in Petaluma has increased 4.8% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Petaluma neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Petaluma are 94954 ($2,848/mo), and 94952 ($3,165/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Petaluma is $2,927/mo.

How does Petaluma rent compare to other cities in California?

Petaluma is middle-of-the-pack for California for rent, ranking #165 out of 387 tracked cities at $2,927/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Petaluma?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Petaluma ($2,927/mo): Santa Rosa ($2,534/mo), Rohnert Park ($2,649/mo).

What percentage of Petaluma residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 35.5% of Petaluma households are renters, while 64.5% are owner-occupied. Petaluma leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Petaluma rent compare to the national average?

Petaluma's median rent of $2,927/mo is $962 (49%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #165 out of 387 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

30%

MODERATE

At $2,927/mo, rent takes ~30% of Petaluma's median household income ($115,430/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Petaluma 30%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Petaluma affordability calculator →

Nearby cities