Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Lauderdale, FL
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Fort Lauderdale leads 12 of 19 categories
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,376
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673 ✓ Larger
Santa Rosa
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
90
Population
178,221
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Homes cost $244k less ($417,600 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $397/mo less ($1,627 vs $2,024)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 60°F
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $17,228/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Households earn $17,228 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Lauderdale
Median Home Value
$244k less
$417,600 vs $661,700
Fort Lauderdale
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 110.1 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$17,228
$92,604 vs $75,376/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 110.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $417,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,627⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,376 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.3 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 79 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 90 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 63 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 19.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.3% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer | 59.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 63.0" | 31.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 182,673 ✓ Larger | 178,221 |
| Median Age | 43.2 ✓ Older | 40.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.3% ✓ More | 18.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Lauderdale's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Santa Rosa is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Fort Lauderdale leads 12 of 19 categories. Fort Lauderdale wins 12 and Santa Rosa wins 7. 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 Fort Lauderdale to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($417,600 vs $661,700 median home), income ($75,376 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Lauderdale, FL and Santa Rosa, CA are about 2,601 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.