2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Long Beach, CA vs Petaluma, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Petaluma older or younger than people in Long Beach?
- The Median Age in Petaluma is 6.9 years older than in Long Beach.

Are housing costs cheaper in Petaluma or Long Beach?
- Petaluma housing costs are 13.5% more expensive than Long Beach housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Petaluma or Long Beach?
- The average commute for residents of Petaluma is 0.2 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Long Beach.

Things to do in Long Beach?
Long Beach, California makes for an ideal destination for beach lovers, boasting miles of gorgeous coastline. Visitors can spend the day in the sand or enjoy a variety of outdoor activities like kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. The city also offers numerous cultural attractions such as the Long Beach Museum of Art and aquarium, plus plenty of shopping destinations downtown and along Shoreline Drive. In addition to its beaches, Long Beach has a lively nightlife filled with bars and clubs, making it a great choice for those who want to experience all that this vibrant city has to offer.

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!

 Long Beach, CAPetaluma, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock60,050329,725,481
 Median Income$71,150  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock42.838.4
 Avg. Home Price$739,900  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock5.0%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time30.36  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Long Beach    45 Reviews

Local born and bred. This place is going down the drain. Crime is up, housing is up, yuppies finding nothing wrong with it since they want to validate spending 3k on a 2  More

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Angelique · 
Over 5 years ago

I love Long Beach. I especially shoreline village and the aquarium of the pacific. The only big problem here (for me) is crime. Otherwise, nice  More

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Over 7 years ago

The cost of living is extremely high and there are way too many apartments or multi unit homes which have no parking. But with everyone living on top of each other it  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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