Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Santa Rosa leads 17 of 23 categories
Newark
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Santa Rosa
California
17
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.
Newark, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $349k less ($312,300 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $751/mo less ($1,273 vs $2,024)
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $46,144/yr
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (10.7% vs 5.6%)
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Households earn $46,144 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.1 pts lower (5.6%)
41% less violent crime than Newark
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 39°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
Newark
Median Home Value
$349k less
$312,300 vs $661,700
Newark
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°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
$46,144
$92,604 vs $46,460/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
41% lower
342.6 vs 581.2 per 100k
Santa Rosa
Unemployment
5.1 pp lower
5.6% vs 10.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, NJ | 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 | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (90) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 31.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,355 ✓ Larger | 178,221 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.9% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark'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 17 of 23 categories. Newark wins 6 and Santa Rosa wins 17. 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 Newark to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $661,700 median home), income ($46,460 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and Santa Rosa, CA are about 2,556 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.