Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New York, NY
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Santa Rosa leads 15 of 23 categories
New York
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ 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.
New York, NY
Pros
Rent averages $310/mo less ($1,714 vs $2,024)
More college-educated — 40.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $15,997/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 5.6%)
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
49% less violent crime than New York
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.6%)
Households earn $15,997 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 40°F
Homes cost $70k less ($661,700 vs $732,100)
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
New York
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 84.8°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 110.1 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$15,997
$92,604 vs $76,607/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
49% lower
342.6 vs 671.0 per 100k
Santa Rosa
Median Home Value
$70k less
$661,700 vs $732,100
Santa Rosa
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 110.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $732,100⚠ High | $661,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,714⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,607 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 41.1 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 177⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.2% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 83.3% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.7°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" | 31.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger | 178,221 |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 32.9% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New York's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Santa Rosa is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Rosa leads 15 of 23 categories. New York 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 New York to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($732,100 vs $661,700 median home), income ($76,607 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New York, NY and Santa Rosa, CA are about 2,569 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.