2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Petaluma, CA vs Lake Forest, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Lake Forest older or younger than people in Petaluma?
- The Median Age in Lake Forest is 2.7 years younger than in Petaluma.

Are housing costs cheaper in Lake Forest or Petaluma?
- Lake Forest housing costs are 11.7% more expensive than Petaluma housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Lake Forest or Petaluma?
- The average commute for residents of Lake Forest is 4.1 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Petaluma.

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!

Things to do in Lake Forest?
Lake Forest, California markets itself as the ultimate Southern California lifestyle with numerous parks, shopping centers, and miles of trails giving visitors plenty of options for an active lifestyle.

 Petaluma, CALake Forest, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock85,516329,725,481
 Median Income$100,379  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock40.138.4
 Avg. Home Price$839,600  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock5.6%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time30.13  Unlock26.38
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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Reviews for Lake Forest    16 Reviews

I've lived in Lake Forest for over a decade, before that elsewhere in OC and also up in LA. Lake Forest isn't perfect but it's really improved over the past decade,  More

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As a retired senior who has lived in Lake Forest (formerly El Toro) since 1977 I think LF is a great place if you can afford it. When we moved here in June '77 homes  More

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I’ve lived here for 2 years. Ok, it’s more like a 4 but there are so many idiots downplaying what it’s like here and giving Lake Forest ones and twos. There are a lot of  More

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