2025 Compare Cities Rankings:
Carmel Valley Village, CA vs Petaluma, CA

#26 America's Best and Worst Cities for Crime (Mid-Size Metro Areas)

#105 America's Migraine Hot Spots

#132 Best Green Cities

#153 2005 Best Places to Live

#1 America’s Best Cities for Foodies

#23 America's Best and Worst Cities for Crime (Mid-Size Metro Areas)

#137 Best Green Cities

#166 2005 Best Places to Live

It was a great place to grow up in the 70s. However, it has become very expensive. Natural beauty abounds. Reasonable drives to get to Carmel or down the coast to Big  More

A tresure, a precious gem, fresh, sweet smeeling air everytime I round the corner into the village, kind people, gorgeous scenes everywhere-trees, creeks, flowers,  More

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

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

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