Californians and others: Please share any information and/or opinions about Petaluma and Sonoma County. I need cost of housing, apartments, food, sales tax info—any input will be much appreciated.
Thanks.
Well, I’ve just passed through it a number of times—wonderful city, IMO. Far enough away from San Francisco, but not too far…
Drove from Petalmua to San Diego in one day once. So, just so you know. You can drive from Petaluma to SD in a day! 
Sorry I can’t be more helpful. Someone else will most assuredly come along eventually and give you something of substance, I am sure!
The chicken capital of the world?
The guy that wrote the song/album Spirit in the Sky (Norman Greenbaum?) retired there with his money from his original hit to raise chickens.
The record company made so much money off the first album they figured any album he would do would do really well. So they found him in Petaluma in the middle of his chicken ranch and offered him incredible amounts of money to do another album. He was hesitant at first, but the bucks were so good that he agreed. His second album was all about Petaluma and raising chickens.
It is one of the most bizarre records I have ever heard. You’d be surprised how many things rhyme with Petaluma.
Just a couple of years ago, I heard he got out of the Chicken business.
I grew up in Sonoma County, though at the other end (north).
Here is what I know about Petaluma:
It has a big arts and performing arts community (lots of community theater, etc.) It also has a big farming/agricultural community. They have a yearly “butter and eggs” parade/festival. I believe the Sonoma-Marin Fair is also held in Petaluma.
There is a great hang-out for teenagers/young adults called the Phoenix Theater. I spent many a high school eve at the Phoenix skankin’ at ska shows. There’s another venue for the 21+ crowd called the Mystic. I’ve never been there, but they get good acts going through pretty frequently.
The city has about 55,000 people. It’s probably a bit more expensive than Santa Rosa to buy a house (depending on the neighborhood). It’s close enough to San Francisco to get there whenever you want without being in Marin County, home of yuppies. Though I bet there are lots of yuppies in Petaluma, too. It’s also close to wine country (Sonoma and Geyserville/Alexander Valley) and also close to the ocean. Sonoma County beaches are very beautiful.
Cost of living anywhere in Sonoma County/Bay Area is going to be pretty high. I would suggest looking at craigslist.org for an idea of rents etc. I believe they have some North Bay listings. I think food/grocery costs will be on par with the rest of Northern California. Take advantage of farmer’s markets and eat seasonally.
I hope some of this is helpful.
mle
I grew up in Sonoma County, though at the other end (north).
Here is what I know about Petaluma:
It has a big arts and performing arts community (lots of community theater, etc.) It also has a big farming/agricultural community. They have a yearly “butter and eggs” parade/festival. I believe the Sonoma-Marin Fair is also held in Petaluma.
There is a great hang-out for teenagers/young adults called the Phoenix Theater. I spent many a high school eve at the Phoenix skankin’ at ska shows. There’s another venue for the 21+ crowd called the Mystic. I’ve never been there, but they get good acts going through pretty frequently.
The city has about 55,000 people. It’s probably a bit more expensive than Santa Rosa to buy a house (depending on the neighborhood). It’s close enough to San Francisco to get there whenever you want without being in Marin County, home of yuppies. Though I bet there are lots of yuppies in Petaluma, too. It’s also close to wine country (Sonoma and Geyserville/Alexander Valley) and also close to the ocean. Sonoma County beaches are very beautiful.
Cost of living anywhere in Sonoma County/Bay Area is going to be pretty high. I would suggest looking at craigslist.org for an idea of rents etc. I believe they have some North Bay listings. I think food/grocery costs will be on par with the rest of Northern California. Take advantage of farmer’s markets and eat seasonally.
I hope some of this is helpful.
mle
Ugh, sorry about the double post.
I live just north of Petaluma. It’s a nice town. There is a thriving downtown area that is used a lot in movies to represent “everytown”; it was where American Graffiti was filmed, for example.
Prices are very high for houses. Median is in the mid 300s last I heard where I am, so it’s a bit more in Petaluma, perhaps $370,000 (guessing). Cost of living besides that is comparable to Washington DC, from where I moved. Electricity is expensive.
The weather is pretty nice: it never snows, though it is commonly just below freezing for a couple of hours in the winter mornings. In the summer the temperature is frequently 80 degrees, with a few days every year getting near 100. However, the humidity is very low, so it is not as stultifying as the east coast.
You can do a web search on Petaluma and get lots of info too.