Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Santa Rosa leads 15 of 22 categories
El Monte
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
108,682
Santa Rosa
California
15
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.
El Monte, CA
Pros
Rent averages $419/mo less ($1,605 vs $2,024)
Homes cost $65k less ($597,200 vs $661,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 60°F
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $32,675/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 5.6%)
Longer commutes — 29.3 min average each way
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Households earn $32,675 more per year on average
19% less violent crime than El Monte
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
5% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Key Differences at a Glance
El Monte
Median Home Value
$65k less
$597,200 vs $661,700
El Monte
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 110.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$32,675
$92,604 vs $59,929/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
19% lower
342.6 vs 423.2 per 100k
Santa Rosa
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, 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 | $597,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B- (90) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 59.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 31.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 | 178,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte'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. El Monte 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 El Monte to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $661,700 median home), income ($59,929 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Santa Rosa, CA are about 399 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.