Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orlando, FL
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Orlando leads 13 of 22 categories
Orlando
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,292
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
307,738 ✓ Larger
Santa Rosa
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
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.
Orlando, FL
Pros
Homes cost $329k less ($332,700 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $515/mo less ($1,509 vs $2,024)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 60°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $26,312/yr
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4028.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
59% less violent crime than Orlando
Households earn $26,312 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°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)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Orlando
Key Differences at a Glance
Orlando
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 101.1 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Orlando
Median Home Value
$329k less
$332,700 vs $661,700
Orlando
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$26,312
$92,604 vs $66,292/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
59% lower
342.6 vs 835.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orlando, FL | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $332,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,509⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,292 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.4% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ORANGE | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer | 59.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 31.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,738 ✓ Larger | 178,221 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.2% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orlando's cost of living index is 101.1 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Orlando is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Orlando leads 13 of 22 categories. Orlando wins 13 and Santa Rosa wins 9. 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 Orlando to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($332,700 vs $661,700 median home), income ($66,292 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orlando, FL and Santa Rosa, CA are about 2,466 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.