Population
San Rafael
60,604
Petaluma
59,321
Median Income
San Rafael
$109,317
Petaluma
$109,823
Home Value
San Rafael
$1,246,200
Petaluma
$834,900
Rent
San Rafael
$2,346
Petaluma
$2,379
Crime Rate
San Rafael
5.59
Petaluma
2.72
Cost of Living
San Rafael
240.9
Petaluma
205.6
Avg Temp
San Rafael
N/A
Petaluma
N/A
Unemployment
San Rafael
5.8%
Petaluma
4.5%
How Similar Are San Rafael & Petaluma?
Petaluma is San Rafael's #23 most similar city
3 of 10 key metrics match within 10%
Population
San Rafael
60,604
Petaluma
59,321
Both cities have similar populations — San Rafael at 60,604 and Petaluma at 59,321.
Violent Crime
San Rafael
5.59
Petaluma
2.72
San Rafael's violent crime is significantly higher than Petaluma's — 51% difference.
Property Crime
San Rafael
24.56
Petaluma
11.73
San Rafael's property crime is significantly higher than Petaluma's — 52% difference.
Political Leaning
San Rafael
16.7%
Petaluma
25.2%
Both cities lean Democratic, but Petaluma has a stronger Democratic lean (34% difference).
Unemployment
San Rafael
5.8%
Petaluma
4.5%
San Rafael has a 22% higher unemployment than Petaluma.
Median Income
San Rafael
$109,317
Petaluma
$109,823
Both cities have similar median income — just a 0% difference.
Home Values
San Rafael
$1,246,200
Petaluma
$834,900
San Rafael has a 33% higher home values than Petaluma.
Education
San Rafael
35.4%
Petaluma
32.5%
Both cities have similar education — just a 8% difference.
Demographics
San Rafael
57.1%
Petaluma
71.6%
Petaluma has a 20% higher demographics than San Rafael.
Cost of Living
San Rafael
240.9
Petaluma
205.6
San Rafael has a 15% higher cost of living than Petaluma.
3 out of 10 key metrics match within 10%. San Rafael and Petaluma differ in most key areas.
At a Glance
0
San Rafael
0
Petaluma
Cost of Living & Affordability — Petaluma leads
Source: City Stats Index / HUDPetaluma has a fair market rent (1br) of $2,155 vs $2,977 in San Rafael (38% lower). Petaluma has a fair market rent (2br) of $2,827 vs $3,604 in San Rafael (27% lower). Petaluma scores 317.2 on the housing index (100 = national avg) vs 400.0 in San Rafael.
Overall Cost Index
Housing Index
Food Index
Transportation Index
Healthcare Index
Utilities Index
Living Wage (1 Adult)
Living Wage (Family of 4)
Fair Market Rent (1BR)
Fair Market Rent (2BR)
Housing Market — Petaluma leads
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSPetaluma has a median property tax of $5,557 vs $10,001 in San Rafael (80% lower). San Rafael has a median home value of $1,246,200 vs $834,900 in Petaluma (49% higher). Petaluma has a vacancy rate of 2.8% compared to 4.0% in San Rafael.
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Property Tax
Owner-Occupied
Vacancy Rate
Single-Family Homes
Jobs & Economy — San Rafael leads
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSPetaluma has a poverty rate of 6.2% compared to 10.9% in San Rafael. Petaluma has a unemployment rate of 4.5% compared to 5.8% in San Rafael. San Rafael has a work from home of 22.9% compared to 18.0% in Petaluma.
Median Household Income
Per Capita Income
Poverty Rate
Unemployment Rate
Labor Force
Mean Commute
Work from Home
Private Sector
Government Sector
Crime & Safety — Petaluma leads
Source: FBI UCRPetaluma has a robbery rate (per 1k) of 0.44 compared to 1.49 in San Rafael. Petaluma has a burglary rate (per 1k) of 0.96 compared to 2.64 in San Rafael. Petaluma has a property crime rate (per 1k) of 11.73 compared to 24.56 in San Rafael.
Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)
Property Crime Rate (per 1K)
Murder Rate (per 1K)
Robbery Rate (per 1K)
Assault Rate (per 1K)
Burglary Rate (per 1K)
Larceny Rate (per 1K)
Violent Crime Clearance
Property Crime Clearance
Weather & Climate
Source: NOAA / Open-MeteoAvg Annual Temperature
Avg Annual High
Avg Annual Low
Sunny Days per Year
Annual Rainfall
Annual Snowfall
Avg Humidity
Schools & Education
Source: NCES / U.S. Census BureauSan Rafael has a bachelor's degree or higher of 35.4% compared to 32.5% in Petaluma.
Public Schools
Avg Student-Teacher Ratio
Colleges & Universities
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
High School Diploma or Higher
Demographics & Community
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSSan Rafael has a population of 60,604, about 1x the size of Petaluma (59,321). San Rafael skews younger with a median age of 43.5 vs 45.0.
Population
Median Age
Avg Household Size
Married Population
Foreign Born
White
Black
Hispanic
Asian
San Rafael
Petaluma
Healthcare — San Rafael leads
Source: CMS Hospital CompareSan Rafael: 3.4 vs Petaluma: 3.2 for avg cms rating (out of 5).
Nearby Hospitals
Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)
With Emergency Services
Transportation & Commute — San Rafael leads
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSSan Rafael has a public transit of 6.8% compared to 1.5% in Petaluma. San Rafael has a bicycle of 0.9% compared to 0.4% in Petaluma. Petaluma has a drive alone of 69.6% compared to 50.4% in San Rafael.
Mean Commute Time
Drive Alone
Public Transit
Bicycle
Work from Home
Airports
Cities Similar to San Rafael, CA
Compare San Rafael against its closest statistical matches across demographics, income, crime, health, and more.
City Comparison
8-axis fingerprint: population, income, housing, crime, education, age, climate, and cost of living. Click legend items to toggle.