2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Evanston, IL vs Petaluma, CA

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

Are housing costs cheaper in Petaluma or Evanston?
- Petaluma housing costs are 97.6% more expensive than Evanston housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Petaluma or Evanston?
- The average commute for residents of Petaluma is 0.7 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Evanston.

Things to do in Evanston?
Evanston, Illinois is a vibrant city located in the Northeastern region of the United States. Home to attractions such as Northwestern University and Chicago Botanic Garden, visitors can explore outdoor activities and educational sites when visiting Evanston. There are also plenty of museums, galleries, and performance venues such as the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian and Piven Theatre Works. For entertainment, visitors can explore boutique shops and restaurants along with movie theaters and live music clubs. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an exciting night out, Evanston has something for everyone!

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!

 Evanston, ILPetaluma, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock60,050329,725,481
 Median Income$87,345  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock42.838.4
 Avg. Home Price$424,900  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock5.0%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time30.84  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Evanston    20 Reviews

Over 6 years ago

be sure to take pictures of where you park... Full-scale parking scam going on in this town. They purposely obscure self-pay parking signs. Nine out of 10 visitors  More

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I've lived here for two years for school. Terrible place for students. Northwestern is a great school/campus, but the city itself is NOT student friendly. Everything  More

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Aside from everything else mentioned on this site about the bad aspects of Evanston - bot be overlooked is the NOISE. The People's Republic of Evanston CATERS to the  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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