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D

Is Petaluma, California Safe?

Population 59,688 · Safer than 16% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

With a violent crime rate close to the national average, Petaluma faces real safety challenges. It earns a D grade and ranks below 84% of US cities. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,972 per 100K.

Petaluma Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricPetalumaCalifornia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate350.3333.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2334.22099.21,832.3
Murder Rate5.0--5.7
Assault Rate242.0--268.2
Theft Rate1972.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate343.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyD

268.4 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

350/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2334/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Petaluma

Violent crime in Petaluma is close to the national average. The rate of 350.3 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2334.2 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,972 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Petaluma Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder5
088% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault242
090% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery56
088% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary452
01.7x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,972
01.4x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft343
01.1x national avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Petaluma Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Petaluma
350.3
State
333.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Petaluma
2334.2
State
2099.2
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Petaluma Safety

Is Petaluma safe?
Not especially. Petaluma earns a D with a crime rate of 268.4 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Petaluma?
268.4 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 350.3 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2334.2 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Petaluma safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Petaluma's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,972 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Petaluma?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Petaluma generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Petaluma police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Petaluma?
No. Crime in Petaluma has been trending down, which is good news for the D-rated city.
How does Petaluma compare to other cities in California?
Below average for the state. Petaluma ranks behind about 79% of California cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.3x the national rate.
How safe is Petaluma to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Petaluma?
Bad. A D grade and 268.4 per-thousand rate put Petaluma below 84% of US cities. Violent crime at 350 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Petaluma?
350.3 per 100,000, which is 4% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (242), robbery (56), and murder (5.0) per 100,000.

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View all California city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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