2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Albany, CA vs Petaluma, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Petaluma older or younger than people in Albany?
- The Median Age in Petaluma is 6.2 years older than in Albany.

Are housing costs cheaper in Petaluma or Albany?
- Petaluma housing costs are 31.1% less expensive than Albany housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Petaluma or Albany?
- The average commute for residents of Petaluma is 1.7 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Albany.

Things to do in Albany?
Albany, CA is a pleasant village northeast of Berkeley featuring several spectacular spots such as Memorial Park perfect for exploring or Cerrito Creek Trail ideal for recreational activities; locals gather yearly at the remarkable Cajun & Blues Festival celebrating local culture with music and art.

Things to do in Petaluma?
Petaluma, California is a charming city located in Sonoma County, approximately 52 miles north of San Francisco. The city was first settled by Europeans in the 1850s and is known today for its historic downtown area full of antique stores, restaurants and specialty shops. Petaluma has something for everyone with its unique shops, farms, vineyards, ranches, community events and scenic hikes. It has become an increasingly popular destination due to its laid-back atmosphere and close proximity to wine country and the Pacific Ocean. Whether you’re looking for outdoor recreation or a romantic getaway, Petaluma awaits!

 Albany, CAPetaluma, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock60,050329,725,481
 Median Income$113,602  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock42.838.4
 Avg. Home Price$1,218,000  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock5.0%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time31.79  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Albany    4 Reviews

Albany is one of the best places to live not only in California but the USA. Niche 2023 has ranked Albany the number one suburb in California and is consistently in the  More

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Over 13 years ago

Like many places in the Bay Area, there are some mixed-race couples and gay couples in Albany. What is really striking, though, is the number of families where both  More

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Albany was originally built as a railroad workers' town. So the bad news is that nearly every house was originally two, or at most three, bedrooms with one bath, about  More

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Reviews for Petaluma    16 Reviews

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  More

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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  More

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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  More

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