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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Petaluma, CA has a Safety Score of 59/100 — safer than 59% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,444.6 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,222 of 2,957 US cities and #53 of 264 in California.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Petaluma, CA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Petaluma, California Safe?
Nestled in Sonoma County, Petaluma is a historic dairy town known for its well-preserved iron-front buildings and a population of around 60,000. It straddles the Petaluma River, flowing into San Pablo Bay.
Petaluma has a safety score of 59/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,444.6 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Petaluma ranks #53 out of 264 cities in California and #1222 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 59th percentile for safety — safer than 59% of US cities.
Year over year, Petaluma's total crime rate decreased by 4.7%, with violent crime declining 3.1%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Petaluma Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 159 | 271.8 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 26 | 44.5 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 26 | 44.5 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 107 | 182.9 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 686 | 1,172.8 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 56 | 95.7 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 571 | 976.2 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 59 | 100.9 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Petaluma vs California Average
How does Petaluma's crime rate compare to the California state average?
| Metric | Petaluma | California Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 271.8 | 518.0 | -47.5% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,172.8 | 2,161.3 | -45.7% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 4.4 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,444.6 | 2,679.3 | -46.1% |
Petaluma Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Petaluma, California.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 58,493 | 1,444.6 | 271.8 | 1,172.8 |
| 2023 | 58,099 | 1,516.4 | 280.6 | 1,235.8 |
| 2022 | 59,129 | 1,720.0 | 510.8 | 1,209.2 |
| 2020 | 60,806 | 1,662.7 | 419.4 | 1,243.3 |
| 2019 | 62,425 | 1,568.3 | 304.4 | 1,263.9 |
Petaluma Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Petaluma and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: California crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Petaluma, California safe?
Petaluma has a safety score of 59/100, meaning it has less crime than about 59% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,444.6 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Petaluma is about average for a US city.
What is the crime rate in Petaluma, California?
According to FBI data for 2024, Petaluma has a violent crime rate of 271.8 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,172.8 per 100,000 residents.
How does Petaluma compare to the national average?
Petaluma's total crime rate of 1,444.6 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 58,493 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Petaluma?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Petaluma are larceny-theft (571 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (107 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 4.3x in the city.
Is Petaluma safe to visit?
Like any city, Petaluma has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 59/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.