Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Santa Rosa leads 15 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Kansas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438
Santa Rosa
California
15
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.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $528k less ($133,800 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $980/mo less ($1,044 vs $2,024)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $36,484/yr
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Households earn $36,484 more per year on average
67% less violent crime than Kansas City
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 40°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Kansas City
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$528k less
$133,800 vs $661,700
Kansas City
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$36,484
$92,604 vs $56,120/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
67% lower
342.6 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B- (90) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" | 31.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 | 178,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Rosa leads 15 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 8 and Santa Rosa wins 15. 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 Kansas City to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $661,700 median home), income ($56,120 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and Santa Rosa, CA are about 1,501 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.