Petaluma, CA is a city in northern California known for its close-knit community and diverse attractions. The town offers a variety of activities to do throughout the year such as the very popular Butter and Egg Days Festival, which celebrates the city's rich agricultural history. Petaluma also offers a great selection of restaurants, shopping areas, parks, and museums. In addition to these attractions, Petaluma has become well-known for its excellent schools and countless recreational opportunities. Residents of Petaluma enjoy a warm climate with mild summers and cool winters making it an ideal destination for those looking to escape colder climates during the winter months.
Overall reviews for Petaluma are overwhelmingly positive due to the town’s numerous amenities as well as its laid-back atmosphere. Visitors and locals alike talk about how friendly everyone is in this small-town setting while being able to access all of the modern amenities that larger cities offer. With so much to do and see, Petaluma has something for everyone from young professionals to retirees. Those considering a move to Petaluma will be glad they did after experiencing everything this vibrant city has to offer.
based on 16 ReviewsGet to know Petaluma with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Petaluma
Old hippies are in charge - 9/6/2021
I agree with the low star reviews. Been here for 25 years, raised a family and seen everything turn to the left and worse. Weather is glorious, love the old Victorians on the west side. BUT, schools suck big time with pro BLM'ers and critical race theory being taught in public schools. How evil is it for strangers in public schools to indoctrinate your children? Roads are TERRIBLE and always have been. Liberal City Council has had a few streets repaved, but in a quality you'd see in a third world country. I think that is their utopia. They're trying to do away with the historical Petaluma Fairgrounds, which has evil car racing that is just too American for them. Building has gone off the charts (greed) and the roads are crowded with traffic and newcomers have brought their aggressive driving habits with them. A lot of the people here ARE
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A great place to call home, if you can afford it - 7/1/2021
We’ve lived here for 3 years and we love it. It has taken some time to grow on us. We moved from SF where we had lived over 15 years, we were not used to one year leases (vs month to month in SF) nor lack of easy public transit. The schools are great, the climate is nice. The spring became my new favorite season (in SF fall was my favorite for the warmest days there). Spring in Sonoma county is green, vibrant, scattered clouds with sunbeams and rainbows. Those days are few but spectacular. In the spring we hike at Sugarloaf, in the warm summer months we hike over in Point Reyes, for the misty cool coast and wildlife. Our daughter attends McNear elementary. It’s nestled in a quiet neighborhood, with green grass, redwoods, lots of playground space, gardens and swings! Most of the schools around here are good, but aesthetically they are concrete, drab and no swings. I think these things are important to consider for the elementary kids. McNear also places importance on the arts. There’s
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California living at its finest! - 3/28/2021
I’ve lived here a couple of years (after living in others parts of the Bay Area for 15+ years) and I love it! Great neighborhoods, friendly folks, good schools with involved families, a vibrant art scene, and gorgeous nature all around! Sure, this town isn’t cheap, but it’s a destination. This is where the Bay Area meets wine country (it’s much cheaper than the Peninsula, SF or Marin!) Besides, most of California is considered expensive if it’s being compared to other states. We feel deeply fortunate that we’re able to raise our family here.
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Very nice town with a real downtown - 9/8/2020
Have lived here for 6 years. Moved from Seattle. Love the charming downtown, nice places to eat, and charming shops in the walking district. The Victorian houses and their mostly well-kept gardens can be visited driving on tree-lined streets. There is a mix of newer and older neighborhoods. Our kids safely ride bikes into town on weekends and visit friends. There is an excellent rowing club and kayak racing team making use of the waterway. Theater kids enjoy Cinnabar theater classes and put on plays for the families. Several nights a week live music is played in cafes and theaters. Like many towns, there is not enough money for the general infrastructure upkeep. I hope that will get better over time. I will try to do my part to make it a better place and get to know my neighbors.
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Beautiful Town with Vapid People - 6/18/2020
I give one star for the restaurant quality, and one for the charm of the town, which also has pretty great weather. What a great town it would be if it wasn't for the people. Some say that LA people are ungrounded and not living in reality. They can also say that about far flung places like Kauai. I know both. But let me tell you, when it comes to meeting people who've never had a reality check, who wouldn't know reality if it bit them in the behind, this town is quite something. It's a very expensive town, but what's amazing about it is just how many people can still make a living, still pay the mortgage or rent, while mentally living in outer space. See the previous one star review. All of that is true. It's worse than hippies though. It's like cleaner, put together, totalitarian corporate hippies, if that makes sense. But even worse, I've never met such a boring group of people in my life. And as super polite as they are they'll get quite offended if you present them
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Just say no. - 11/3/2019
We moved to Petaluma from Florida 5 years ago because my husband is from the area and has a lot of contacts in his industry. First, Petaluma is a quaint little town but liberal policies are starting to ruin it like it has ruin every town in America. Our roads are the worst despite the fools here voting for a gas tax increase to pay for road repairs. That money went into Gavin Newsom's choo choo train down south. So now they want to extend our sales tax increase to fund roads. Of course, once again, these fools are going to vote for it. Our city council is more interested in spending money on bathtubs on stilts "art" than the roads. They spend their time doing virtue signaling resolutions like declaring a "climate emergency," than aiding their citizens.
Housing costs are astronomical. A dumpy little tract home will set you back about $500k. Gas is over $4.00/gallon. If you don't bring your own bag to the store, you have to buy one for 10 cents. Most people work in San
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Nice town, terrible traffic and road conditions - 6/8/2019
Petaluma gets four stars for several reasons. The great bars and restaurants, the neighborhoods, the weather, which is the best in Sonoma County, but in regards to traffic and road conditions, it's a complete disaster. Not only is 101 traffic terrible at nearly all hours going north and south, but the town's east west traffic is just as bad. The city needs a bridge across the Petaluma river at the south end of town. In addition the road conditions are the worst I've seen. Potholes everywhere. This city isn't poor, it had enough money for an asinine "road diet" in the downtown area. The citizens are to blame, who let the city counsel prioritize everything, including ghastly modern art, except for fixing potholes, the very basics of running a city.
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Petaluma - A nice place to live. - 2/28/2008
Having grown up in Monterey California and having just moved from 10+ years in Rincon Valley of Santa Rosa, Petaluma has furthered the gift of living in an area that espouses a home town feeling while being close enough to city
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Very Expensive - 7/1/2007
I've lived in Petaluma my whole life, but I will probably be moving in order to actually buy some property. The west side of town is more expensive than the east side, however you don't really get much bang for your buck on either side of town. Plus since the houses are so expensive the property taxes are
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