Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Glendale leads 12 of 22 categories
Glendale
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512 ✓ Larger
Santa Rosa
California
10
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.
Glendale, CA
Pros
16% less violent crime than Santa Rosa
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 60°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $11,385/yr
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.6%)
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Homes cost $330k less ($661,700 vs $992,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.6%)
Households earn $11,385 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Smaller class sizes — 19.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Violent Crime
16% lower
287.2 vs 342.6 per 100k
Glendale
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 85.8°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
$11,385
$92,604 vs $81,219/yr
Santa Rosa
Median Home Value
$330k less
$661,700 vs $992,000
Santa Rosa
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, 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 | $992,000⚠ High | $661,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 19.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 59.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 31.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 ✓ Larger | 178,221 |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 40.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 18.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale'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, Glendale leads 12 of 22 categories. Glendale wins 12 and Santa Rosa wins 10. 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 Glendale to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $661,700 median home), income ($81,219 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Santa Rosa, CA are about 385 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.