Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Santa Rosa leads 15 of 22 categories
Carson
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
94,475
Santa Rosa
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,604
Violent Crime Index
90 ✓ Safer
Population
178,221 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Rent averages $209/mo less ($1,815 vs $2,024)
Households earn $10,441 more per year on average
Homes cost $46k less ($616,000 vs $661,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 60°F
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2930.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.6%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
18% less violent crime than Carson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.6%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Smaller class sizes — 19.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Median income trails Carson by $10,441/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$10,441
$103,045 vs $92,604/yr
Carson
Median Home Value
$46k less
$616,000 vs $661,700
Santa Rosa
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 110.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
18% lower
342.6 vs 420.0 per 100k
Santa Rosa
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.9% unemployment
Santa Rosa
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 81.6°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 110.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $92,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (90) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 19.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 59.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 81.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 31.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 178,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 40.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Santa Rosa is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Santa Rosa leads 15 of 22 categories. Carson wins 7 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 Carson to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $661,700 median home), income ($103,045 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Santa Rosa, CA are about 404 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.