Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Albuquerque leads 15 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Santa Rosa
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
90 ✓ Safer
Population
178,221
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $416k less ($246,000 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $1010/mo less ($1,014 vs $2,024)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
More college-educated — 37.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $31,101/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
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
71% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Households earn $31,101 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 95°F
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 52°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Albuquerque
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$416k less
$246,000 vs $661,700
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
13.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$31,101
$92,604 vs $61,503/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
71% lower
342.6 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 31.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 178,221 |
| Median Age | 38.0 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 15 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 15 and Santa Rosa wins 8. 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 Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $661,700 median home), income ($61,503 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Santa Rosa, CA are about 917 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.