Population
Santa Cruz
60,953
Petaluma
59,321
Median Income
Santa Cruz
$111,427
Petaluma
$109,823
Home Value
Santa Cruz
$1,180,100
Petaluma
$834,900
Rent
Santa Cruz
$2,302
Petaluma
$2,379
Crime Rate
Santa Cruz
6.13
Petaluma
2.72
Cost of Living
Santa Cruz
225.2
Petaluma
205.6
Avg Temp
Santa Cruz
N/A
Petaluma
N/A
Unemployment
Santa Cruz
6.3%
Petaluma
4.5%
How Similar Are Santa Cruz & Petaluma?
Petaluma is Santa Cruz's #3 most similar city
5 of 10 key metrics match within 10%
Population
Santa Cruz
60,953
Petaluma
59,321
Both cities have similar populations — Santa Cruz at 60,953 and Petaluma at 59,321.
Violent Crime
Santa Cruz
6.13
Petaluma
2.72
Santa Cruz's violent crime is significantly higher than Petaluma's — 56% difference.
Property Crime
Santa Cruz
25.15
Petaluma
11.73
Santa Cruz's property crime is significantly higher than Petaluma's — 53% difference.
Political Leaning
Santa Cruz
20.9%
Petaluma
25.2%
Both cities lean Democratic, but Petaluma has a stronger Democratic lean (17% difference).
Unemployment
Santa Cruz
6.3%
Petaluma
4.5%
Santa Cruz has a 28% higher unemployment than Petaluma.
Median Income
Santa Cruz
$111,427
Petaluma
$109,823
Both cities have similar median income — just a 1% difference.
Home Values
Santa Cruz
$1,180,100
Petaluma
$834,900
Santa Cruz has a 29% higher home values than Petaluma.
Education
Santa Cruz
33.5%
Petaluma
32.5%
Both cities have similar education — just a 3% difference.
Demographics
Santa Cruz
65.8%
Petaluma
71.6%
Both cities have similar demographics — just a 8% difference.
Cost of Living
Santa Cruz
225.2
Petaluma
205.6
Both cities have similar cost of living — just a 9% difference.
5 out of 10 key metrics match within 10%. Santa Cruz and Petaluma share several key characteristics.
At a Glance
0
Santa Cruz
0
Petaluma
Petaluma leads in 5 of 8 categories
Cost of Living & Affordability — Petaluma leads
Source: City Stats Index / HUDPetaluma has a fair market rent (1br) of $2,155 vs $3,298 in Santa Cruz (53% lower). Petaluma has a fair market rent (2br) of $2,827 vs $4,214 in Santa Cruz (49% lower). Petaluma scores 317.2 on the housing index (100 = national avg) vs 375.1 in Santa Cruz.
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 vacancy rate of 2.8% compared to 8.9% in Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz has a median home value of $1,180,100 vs $834,900 in Petaluma (41% higher). Petaluma has a owner-occupied of 63.9% compared to 47.7% in Santa Cruz.
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Property Tax
Owner-Occupied
Vacancy Rate
Single-Family Homes
Jobs & Economy — Petaluma leads
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSPetaluma has a poverty rate of 6.2% compared to 17.6% in Santa Cruz. Petaluma has a unemployment rate of 4.5% compared to 6.3% in Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz: 18 min vs Petaluma: 25 min for mean commute.
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 assault rate (per 1k) of 1.83 compared to 4.63 in Santa Cruz. Petaluma has a robbery rate (per 1k) of 0.44 compared to 1.03 in Santa Cruz. Petaluma has a larceny rate (per 1k) of 9.76 compared to 22.22 in Santa Cruz.
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 BureauPetaluma has a high school diploma or higher of 45.7% compared to 39.5% in Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz has a bachelor's degree or higher of 33.5% 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 ACSSanta Cruz has a population of 60,953, about 1x the size of Petaluma (59,321). Santa Cruz skews younger with a median age of 30.7 vs 45.0.
Population
Median Age
Avg Household Size
Married Population
Foreign Born
White
Black
Hispanic
Asian
Santa Cruz
Petaluma
Healthcare — Petaluma leads
Source: CMS Hospital ComparePetaluma: 5 vs Santa Cruz: 3 for with emergency services. Petaluma: 3.2 vs Santa Cruz: 3.0 for avg cms rating (out of 5).
Nearby Hospitals
Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)
With Emergency Services
Transportation & Commute — Santa Cruz leads
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSSanta Cruz has a bicycle of 5.2% compared to 0.4% in Petaluma. Santa Cruz has a public transit of 4.8% compared to 1.5% in Petaluma. Santa Cruz: 18 min vs Petaluma: 25 min for mean commute time.
Mean Commute Time
Drive Alone
Public Transit
Bicycle
Work from Home
Airports
Cities Similar to Santa Cruz, CA
Compare Santa Cruz 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.