Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Roseville, CA
🏆 Roseville leads 14 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Roseville
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,265 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
148,879
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $351k less ($246,000 vs $596,700)
Rent averages $926/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,940)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Roseville
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Roseville by $50,762/yr
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.5%)
Roseville, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,762 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $596,700
Higher rents — median is $1,940/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Albuquerque
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$351k less
$246,000 vs $596,700
Roseville
Median Income
$50,762
$112,265 vs $61,503/yr
Roseville
Violent Crime
81% lower
219.2 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Roseville
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Roseville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $596,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,940⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $112,265 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 19.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Roseville City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 93.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 20.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 148,879 |
| Median Age | 38.0 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% | 68.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Roseville's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roseville leads 14 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 9 and Roseville wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to Roseville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $596,700 median home), income ($61,503 vs $112,265), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Roseville, CA are about 848 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.