2025 Compare Cities Economy:
Salinas, CA vs Petaluma, CA

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Highlights
- Household income in Petaluma, is 33% more than it is in Salinas and is 31% above the National Average.
- Salinas unemployment rate is 14.3%.
- Petaluma unemployment rate is 5.0%.
 Salinas, CAPetaluma, CAUnited States
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock5.0%6.0%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock1.7%1.6%
 Future Job Growth23.3%  Unlock33.5%
 Sales Taxes9.3%  Unlock6.2%
 Income Taxes  Unlock8.0%4.6%
 Income per Cap.$25,061  Unlock$37,638
 Household Income  Unlock$100,379$69,021
 Family Median Income$75,396  Unlock$85,028
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 Est. Households By Income
 Salinas, CAPetaluma, CAUnited States
 Income Less Than 15K  Unlock5.2%9.4%
 Income between 15K and 20K3.0%  Unlock3.8%
 Income between 20K and 30K  Unlock5.0%8.1%
 Income between 30K and 40K7.3%  Unlock8.0%
 Income between 40K and 50K  Unlock5.0%7.6%
 Income between 50K and 60K8.3%  Unlock7.2%
 Income between 60K and 75K  Unlock8.2%9.6%
 Income between 75K and 100K17.2%  Unlock12.8%
 Income between 100K and 150K  Unlock19.8%16.3%
 Income between 150K and 200K7.7%  Unlock7.8%
 Income greater than 200K  Unlock17.4%9.5%
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 Population By Occupation
 Salinas, CAPetaluma, CAUnited States
 Management, business, finance9.2%  Unlock16.4%
 Engineering, computers, science  Unlock6.6%6.5%
 Community, social services1.2%  Unlock1.8%
 Legal  Unlock1.3%1.2%
 Education, library4.3%  Unlock6.2%
 Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment  Unlock2.5%2.0%
 Healthcare practitioners and technology3.7%  Unlock6.2%
 Healthcare support  Unlock3.2%3.3%
 Firefighters, law enforcement2.7%  Unlock2.1%
 Food preparation, serving  Unlock6.3%5.4%
 Building maintenance5.1%  Unlock3.6%
 Personal care  Unlock2.6%2.6%
 Sales, office, administrative support18.8%  Unlock20.9%
 Farming, fishing, forestry  Unlock0.4%0.6%
 Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair8.8%  Unlock8.1%
 Production, transportation, material moving  Unlock9.5%13.1%
Reviews for Salinas    15 Reviews

Over 11 years ago

Sacred Heart School is a fine Catholic school in the heart of Salinas, Ca. Victoria Torcolini was principal of this PK-8 school from 2006-2009. Under her leadership, SHS  More

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Over 13 years ago

I Was born and raise in salinas. In 2006 my family moved to the central valley. I moved back to salinas in 2011. I moved back Because I got a better job in Carmel. I  More

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Salinas, California has some of the best weather in Central California. I love looking out at the mountain ranges that line the Salinas River Valley. It's a shame that  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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