Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norman, OK
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Santa Rosa leads 12 of 23 categories
Norman
Oklahoma
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701
Santa Rosa
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
90
Population
178,221 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norman, OK
Pros
Homes cost $437k less ($224,900 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $1020/mo less ($1,004 vs $2,024)
24% less violent crime than Santa Rosa
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 45.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $29,755/yr
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Households earn $29,755 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 50°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Norman
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Norman
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Violent Crime
24% lower
260.2 vs 342.6 per 100k
Norman
Median Home Value
$437k less
$224,900 vs $661,700
Norman
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$29,755
$92,604 vs $62,849/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norman, OK | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $224,900 ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,004 ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,849 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORMAN | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.6" | 31.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,701 | 178,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.4% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norman's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Norman is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Rosa leads 12 of 23 categories. Norman wins 11 and Santa Rosa wins 12. 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 Norman to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($224,900 vs $661,700 median home), income ($62,849 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norman, OK and Santa Rosa, CA are about 1,415 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.