Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ontario, CA
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Santa Rosa leads 12 of 21 categories
Ontario
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,070
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326
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.
Ontario, CA
Pros
21% less violent crime than Santa Rosa
Homes cost $149k less ($513,000 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $198/mo less ($1,826 vs $2,024)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 60°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $14,534/yr
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Households earn $14,534 more per year on average
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Ontario
Key Differences at a Glance
Ontario
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Ontario
Violent Crime
21% lower
272.2 vs 342.6 per 100k
Ontario
Median Home Value
$149k less
$513,000 vs $661,700
Ontario
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$14,534
$92,604 vs $78,070/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ontario, CA | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $513,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,826⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,070 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | B- (90) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.4:1 | 19.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.2% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ontario-Montclair | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 59.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.6" ✓ Drier | 31.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,326 | 178,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.0% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ontario's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Ontario is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Santa Rosa leads 12 of 21 categories. Ontario wins 9 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 Ontario to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($513,000 vs $661,700 median home), income ($78,070 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ontario, CA and Santa Rosa, CA are about 417 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.