Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Santa Rosa leads 12 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
95,022
Santa Rosa
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
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.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Homes cost $370k less ($291,300 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $1080/mo less ($944 vs $2,024)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $35,723/yr
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,723 more per year on average
19% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 47°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Fayetteville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$370k less
$291,300 vs $661,700
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$35,723
$92,604 vs $56,881/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
19% lower
342.6 vs 423.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 31.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 178,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Rosa leads 12 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 11 and Santa Rosa wins 12. 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 Fayetteville to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $661,700 median home), income ($56,881 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Santa Rosa, CA are about 1,572 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.