How many renters in Petaluma, CA pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in Petaluma, CA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

57.3% (±5.9 points) of renting households in Petaluma, CA spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

47.4% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 33.7% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 57.3% (±5.9 points)
Paying 35% or more: 47.4% (±4.8 points)
Median share of income: 33.7% (±2.3 points)

Rent as a share of income in Petaluma

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Petaluma	Sonoma County	California	United States
Less than 15%	9.2% (±2.6 points)	10.2%	10.4%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	8.0% (±2.6 points)	10.4%	11.1%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	12.5% (±2.9 points)	12.3%	12.0%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	13.0% (±2.6 points)	12.3%	11.2%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	9.9% (±3.5 points)	10.7%	9.3%	9.2%
35% or more	47.4% (±4.8 points)	44.1%	46.0%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Petaluma against Sonoma County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Petaluma	Sonoma County	California	United States
Paying 30% or more	57.3% (±5.9 points)	54.8% (±2.0 points)	55.3% (±0.2 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	47.4% (±4.8 points)	44.1% (±1.7 points)	46.0% (±0.2 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	33.7% (±2.3 points)	32.3% (±0.8 points)	32.8% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$86,192 (±$9,793)	$77,033 (±$3,527)	$71,186 (±$298)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$2,440 (±$134)	$2,158 (±$30)	$2,036 (±$5)	$1,413

In Petaluma, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from Sonoma County (54.8%).

It is not measurably different from California (55.3%).

It is higher than the national figure (51.1%).

In Sonoma County, Petaluma ranks 8 of 24 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 459 of 1,067.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Petaluma

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Petaluma
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Petaluma	—	57.3% (±5.9 points)	—
Penngrove	4.6 mi	23.0% (±19.7 points)	Lower
Temelec	7.2 mi	67.4% (±40.4 points)	Not measurably different
Cotati	7.4 mi	42.3% (±12.5 points)	Lower
Rohnert Park	8.3 mi	56.1% (±6.2 points)	Not measurably different
El Verano	8.4 mi	53.2% (±24.6 points)	Not measurably different
Boyes Hot Springs	9.0 mi	56.2% (±25.7 points)	Not measurably different
Glen Ellen	9.1 mi	60.4% (±47.9 points)	Not measurably different
Eldridge	9.2 mi	65.0% (±34.6 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Penngrove, CA (23.0%), Cotati, CA (42.3%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Sonoma County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
2	Guerneville	65.4% (±13.2 points)
3	Eldridge	65.0% (±34.6 points)
4	Larkfield-Wikiup	64.6% (±16.3 points)
5	Sonoma	63.7% (±10.9 points)
6	Glen Ellen	60.4% (±47.9 points)
7	Windsor	57.6% (±11.5 points)
8	Petaluma	57.3% (±5.9 points)
9	Boyes Hot Springs	56.2% (±25.7 points)
10	Rohnert Park	56.1% (±6.2 points)
11	Santa Rosa	54.9% (±3.1 points)
12	Healdsburg	54.0% (±10.2 points)
13	El Verano	53.2% (±24.6 points)
14	Sebastopol	50.3% (±10.4 points)

Showing 13 of 24 places in Sonoma County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Petaluma

Are renters in Petaluma rent-burdened?

57.3% of renting households in Petaluma pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Petaluma spend on rent?

The median renting household in Petaluma, CA spends 33.7% (±2.3 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Petaluma city, California (place:56784, in state:06).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.