Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Anchorage leads 14 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674 ✓ Larger
Santa Rosa
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604
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.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Homes cost $298k less ($363,800 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $619/mo less ($1,405 vs $2,024)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 82°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Households earn $3,127 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2765.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
66% less violent crime than Anchorage
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 21°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Anchorage
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Anchorage
Median Income
$3,127
$95,731 vs $92,604/yr
Anchorage
Median Home Value
$298k less
$363,800 vs $661,700
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
66% lower
342.6 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Santa Rosa
Summer Heat
14.2°F warmer
July avg high 81.6°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $92,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 81.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" ✓ Drier | 31.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 ✓ Larger | 178,221 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Anchorage is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Anchorage leads 14 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 14 and Santa Rosa wins 9. 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 Anchorage to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $661,700 median home), income ($95,731 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Santa Rosa, CA are about 1,939 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.