Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Santa Rosa leads 16 of 22 categories
Compton
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Santa Rosa
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,604 ✓ Higher
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.
Compton, CA
Pros
Rent averages $560/mo less ($1,464 vs $2,024)
Homes cost $172k less ($489,400 vs $661,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 60°F
Cons
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $22,876/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3145.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
73% less violent crime than Compton
Households earn $22,876 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Compton
Median Home Value
$172k less
$489,400 vs $661,700
Santa Rosa
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 110.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$22,876
$92,604 vs $69,728/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
73% lower
342.6 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Santa Rosa
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.9% unemployment
Santa Rosa
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 81.6°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, 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 | $489,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B- (90) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 19.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 59.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 81.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 31.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 178,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton'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 16 of 22 categories. Compton wins 6 and Santa Rosa wins 16. 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 Compton to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $661,700 median home), income ($69,728 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Santa Rosa, CA are about 402 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.