Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Santa Rosa leads 13 of 22 categories
Fresno
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Santa Rosa
California
13
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.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Homes cost $340k less ($321,800 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $797/mo less ($1,227 vs $2,024)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $29,603/yr
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 5.6%)
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
53% less violent crime than Fresno
Households earn $29,603 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 98°F
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 5% higher than Fresno
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Fresno
Median Home Value
$340k less
$321,800 vs $661,700
Fresno
Summer Heat
16.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$29,603
$92,604 vs $63,001/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
53% lower
342.6 vs 735.5 per 100k
Santa Rosa
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.6% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (90) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 31.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 178,221 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Fresno is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Santa Rosa leads 13 of 22 categories. Fresno wins 9 and Santa Rosa wins 13. 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 Fresno to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $661,700 median home), income ($63,001 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Santa Rosa, CA are about 197 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.