Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Santa Rosa leads 14 of 22 categories
Los Angeles
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Santa Rosa
California
14
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.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Rent averages $233/mo less ($1,791 vs $2,024)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 60°F
Cons
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $16,360/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
53% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Homes cost $161k less ($661,700 vs $822,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.6%)
Households earn $16,360 more per year on average
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
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
$16,360
$92,604 vs $76,244/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
53% lower
342.6 vs 728.5 per 100k
Santa Rosa
Median Home Value
$161k less
$661,700 vs $822,600
Santa Rosa
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.7% unemployment
Santa Rosa
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 81.6°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, 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 | $822,600⚠ High | $661,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 59.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 81.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 31.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 178,221 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles'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 14 of 22 categories. Los Angeles wins 8 and Santa Rosa wins 14. 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 Los Angeles to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $661,700 median home), income ($76,244 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Santa Rosa, CA are about 388 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.