Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Petaluma, California
A $835,000 home here costs
$6,059per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $259,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $4,552. The real number is $1,506 higher every month, 33% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Sonoma County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Petaluma against Sonoma County and California
| Measure | Petaluma | Sonoma County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $834,900 | $779,000 |
| Median property tax | $5,557 | $5,580 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.666% | 0.716% |
| Median gross rent | $2,379 | $2,093 |
| Population | 59,321 | 485,642 |
The weather behind that power bill
Petaluma sits in Sonoma County, which averages a high of 84.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 36.9°F in its coldest, with 33.78" of precipitation a year and 60% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 410 cooling and 2,904 heating degree days, which is what sets the $150 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Sonoma County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Sonoma County
Full Sonoma County cost breakdown · Every county in California
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Petaluma averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Petaluma every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Petaluma I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Petaluma?
A $835,000 home in Petaluma, California costs approximately $6,059 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $4,552 principal and interest, $463 property tax, $129 homeowners insurance, $218 utilities and $696 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Petaluma?
Petaluma has an effective property tax rate of 0.666%, based on a median home value of $834,900 and median real estate taxes of $5,557. That is lower than the Sonoma County average of 0.716%.
What is the average home price in Petaluma?
The median owner-occupied home value in Petaluma, California is $834,900, against $779,000 across Sonoma County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Petaluma?
Median gross rent in Petaluma is $2,379 a month, against $6,059 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Petaluma?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Petaluma, California at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $259,500 a year. That covers the full $6,059 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Petaluma, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for California.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.