Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Worth, TX
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Santa Rosa leads 12 of 23 categories
Fort Worth
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,726
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
924,663 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
Homes cost $411k less ($250,300 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $711/mo less ($1,313 vs $2,024)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (458.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $19,878/yr
Property crime (2699.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
25% less violent crime than Fort Worth
Households earn $19,878 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 97°F
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
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)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Fort Worth
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Worth
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Fort Worth
Median Home Value
$411k less
$250,300 vs $661,700
Fort Worth
Summer Heat
15.0°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$19,878
$92,604 vs $72,726/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
25% lower
342.6 vs 458.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Worth, TX | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $250,300 ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,313 ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,726 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT WORTH ISD | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.3" | 31.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 924,663 ✓ Larger | 178,221 |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.1% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Worth's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Worth is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Rosa leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Worth 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 Fort Worth to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,300 vs $661,700 median home), income ($72,726 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Worth, TX and Santa Rosa, CA are about 1,472 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.