2025 Compare Cities Economy:
Foster City, CA vs Petaluma, CA

Change Cities
Highlights
- Household income in Petaluma, is 42% less than it is in Foster City and is 31% above the National Average.
- Foster City unemployment rate is 3.8%.
- Petaluma unemployment rate is 5.0%.
 Foster City, CAPetaluma, CAUnited States
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock5.0%6.0%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock1.7%1.6%
 Future Job Growth42.4%  Unlock33.5%
 Sales Taxes8.8%  Unlock6.2%
 Income Taxes  Unlock8.0%4.6%
 Income per Cap.$80,545  Unlock$37,638
 Household Income  Unlock$100,379$69,021
 Family Median Income$200,822  Unlock$85,028
 space
 Est. Households By Income
 Foster City, CAPetaluma, CAUnited States
 Income Less Than 15K  Unlock5.2%9.4%
 Income between 15K and 20K1.6%  Unlock3.8%
 Income between 20K and 30K  Unlock5.0%8.1%
 Income between 30K and 40K2.8%  Unlock8.0%
 Income between 40K and 50K  Unlock5.0%7.6%
 Income between 50K and 60K2.0%  Unlock7.2%
 Income between 60K and 75K  Unlock8.2%9.6%
 Income between 75K and 100K7.4%  Unlock12.8%
 Income between 100K and 150K  Unlock19.8%16.3%
 Income between 150K and 200K14.6%  Unlock7.8%
 Income greater than 200K  Unlock17.4%9.5%
 space1
 Population By Occupation
 Foster City, CAPetaluma, CAUnited States
 Management, business, finance28.1%  Unlock16.4%
 Engineering, computers, science  Unlock6.6%6.5%
 Community, social services1.0%  Unlock1.8%
 Legal  Unlock1.3%1.2%
 Education, library3.1%  Unlock6.2%
 Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment  Unlock2.5%2.0%
 Healthcare practitioners and technology4.2%  Unlock6.2%
 Healthcare support  Unlock3.2%3.3%
 Firefighters, law enforcement0.7%  Unlock2.1%
 Food preparation, serving  Unlock6.3%5.4%
 Building maintenance0.9%  Unlock3.6%
 Personal care  Unlock2.6%2.6%
 Sales, office, administrative support15.2%  Unlock20.9%
 Farming, fishing, forestry  Unlock0.4%0.6%
 Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair2.0%  Unlock8.1%
 Production, transportation, material moving  Unlock9.5%13.1%
Reviews for Foster City    4 Reviews

Over 17 years ago

Built on lagoons, great climate, good schools, lots of soccer and other sports for kids, plenty of parking and  More

   |    Reply

Over 18 years ago

A great city to raise a family, safe, great weather around the year, good schools and plenty of recreation. But only if you can afford the hight cost of  More

   |    Reply

Landlords are able to command and receive high rent due to the following attributes: safety, weather and cleanliness of Foster City. The lagoon, waterways and gardens  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Foster City

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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Petaluma


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.