Photo: Colin Marquardt, Colin Marquardt · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Petaluma is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns
Petaluma differs from California on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 14 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Petaluma. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Petaluma
Cancer runs high in Petaluma
1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9%), vs 6.4% across California. Conditions ↓
Petaluma keeps up with checkups
It beats California on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (69.5% vs 62.8%) and cholesterol checks (88.2% vs 85.4%). Checkups ↓
Petaluma is an active town
Only 19% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.6% across California. The town has 22 miles of trails across 33 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
Petaluma has a top-rated hospital
Petaluma Valley Hospital is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare. Getting care ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the California figure falls outside Petaluma’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
What’s behind Petaluma’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Petaluma is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns, #176 of 847 in California. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 95% of towns); the weakest is fair or poor health, still better than 71%.
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Petaluma’s median household income is $115,430; among the 6,398 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($87K–$144K), it’s healthier than 75%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Petaluma adults…
Petaluma runs below CA on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Petaluma adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
22 miles of trails across 33 parks and preserves
Care in and near Petaluma
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Petaluma, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Petaluma; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How Petaluma adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Petaluma does better than California.
1 in 3 Petaluma adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9.4% of Petaluma adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Petaluma and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petaluma | A | 25.2% | 9.7% | 10% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Petaluma adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Petaluma
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Petaluma is better than California on 14 and worse on 2; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Petaluma’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Petaluma | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.9%14.8–19.1 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.4%10.9–13.9 | 13.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.6%13.8–17.4 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 25.2%19.9–31.2 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.7%8.4–11.2 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 30.3%26.6–34 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.3%30.3–38.5 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 23.9%21–26.9 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10%8.8–11.2 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9%8.2–9.9 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.8%5.2–6.4 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.3%4.7–5.9 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3%2.8–3.3 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.1%5.7–9 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10%8.6–11.5 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 19%15.8–22.5 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 16.1%13.3–19.2 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33%27.9–38.8 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.7%5.8–7.8 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.4%69.6–77 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 69.5%66.4–72.8 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.2%86.7–89.6 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73%69.5–76.3 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.4%61.8–71.2 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.9%73.7–85.8 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.3%20–26.9 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31%26.6–35.7 | 37.3% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.8%19.7–26.2 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.6%9.1–12.2 | 17.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.7%8.5–11.1 | 14.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.2%4.5–5.9 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.4%5.7–7.1 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.4%8.1–10.7 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.2%23.7–30.9 | 30.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.6%11–14.4 | 13.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.5%11.1–13.9 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.1%5.4–6.8 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.1%3.7–4.5 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7%6.3–7.8 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.2%2.9–3.5 | 3.9% | 3.8% | Lower |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the California figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Petaluma
Is Petaluma a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Petaluma is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns: A for health, #176 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 75%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Petaluma?
CDC estimates 25.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 19.9% and 31.2%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Petaluma?
Sonoma Valley Hospital in Sonoma, 9.4 miles in a straight line from Petaluma’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Petaluma have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.8–7.8%), against 10.6% across California.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Petaluma more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Petaluma.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The California figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.