Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Allen leads 16 of 23 categories
Allen
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$121,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
28 ✓ Safer
Population
105,444
Santa Rosa
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604
Violent Crime Index
90
Population
178,221 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $272k less ($390,200 vs $661,700)
69% less violent crime than Santa Rosa
Households earn $28,655 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 55.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.3%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Median income trails Allen by $28,655/yr
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Allen
Median Income
$28,655
$121,259 vs $92,604/yr
Allen
Violent Crime
69% lower
106.4 vs 342.6 per 100k
Allen
Median Home Value
$272k less
$390,200 vs $661,700
Allen
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.6% unemployment
Allen
Summer Heat
13.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 ✓ Higher | $92,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 63 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 31.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 | 178,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Allen is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allen leads 16 of 23 categories. Allen wins 16 and Santa Rosa wins 7. 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 Allen to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $661,700 median home), income ($121,259 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and Santa Rosa, CA are about 1,500 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.