Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Santa Rosa leads 15 of 22 categories
Long Beach
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Santa Rosa
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Rent averages $326/mo less ($1,698 vs $2,024)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 60°F
Cons
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $13,609/yr
Property crime (3478.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
49% less violent crime than Long Beach
Households earn $13,609 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.6%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Homes cost $48k less ($661,700 vs $709,700)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Rosa
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 110.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$13,609
$92,604 vs $78,995/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
49% lower
342.6 vs 676.4 per 100k
Santa Rosa
Median Home Value
$48k less
$661,700 vs $709,700
Santa Rosa
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, 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 | $709,700⚠ High | $661,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 19.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 59.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 81.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" ✓ Drier | 31.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 ✓ Larger | 178,221 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach'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, Santa Rosa leads 15 of 22 categories. Long Beach wins 7 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 Long Beach to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $661,700 median home), income ($78,995 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and Santa Rosa, CA are about 410 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.