Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Miami Gardens, FL
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Santa Rosa leads 15 of 22 categories
Miami Gardens
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$56,071
Violent Crime Index
109⚠ High
Population
111,618
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
Homes cost $362k less ($299,700 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $441/mo less ($1,583 vs $2,024)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 60°F
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $36,533/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 5.6%)
Longer commutes — 32.3 min average each way
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Households earn $36,533 more per year on average
17% less violent crime than Miami Gardens
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.6%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Miami Gardens
Median Home Value
$362k less
$299,700 vs $661,700
Miami Gardens
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 110.1 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$36,533
$92,604 vs $56,071/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
17% lower
342.6 vs 414.6 per 100k
Santa Rosa
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Miami Gardens, FL | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 110.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $299,700 ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,583⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,071 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B- (90) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.7% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.4% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer | 59.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 31.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,618 | 178,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.2 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.7% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Miami Gardens's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Santa Rosa is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Santa Rosa leads 15 of 22 categories. Miami Gardens 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 Miami Gardens to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($299,700 vs $661,700 median home), income ($56,071 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Miami Gardens, FL and Santa Rosa, CA are about 2,602 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.