Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Santa Rosa leads 15 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
Santa Rosa
California
15
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.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $539k less ($123,000 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $1029/mo less ($995 vs $2,024)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $50,140/yr
Violent crime (1246.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4031.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.6%)
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,140 more per year on average
73% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Birmingham
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$539k less
$123,000 vs $661,700
Birmingham
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$50,140
$92,604 vs $42,464/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
73% lower
342.6 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Santa Rosa
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (90) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 31.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 178,221 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Rosa leads 15 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 8 and Santa Rosa wins 15. 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 Birmingham to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $661,700 median home), income ($42,464 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Santa Rosa, CA are about 2,023 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.