Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pearland, TX
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Pearland leads 16 of 22 categories
Pearland
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478
Santa Rosa
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604
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.
Pearland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $351k less ($311,100 vs $661,700)
72% less violent crime than Santa Rosa
Rent averages $402/mo less ($1,622 vs $2,024)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $18,519 more per year on average
Cons
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Median income trails Pearland by $18,519/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pearland
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Pearland
Median Income
$18,519
$111,123 vs $92,604/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
72% lower
95.9 vs 342.6 per 100k
Pearland
Median Home Value
$351k less
$311,100 vs $661,700
Pearland
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.6% unemployment
Pearland
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pearland, TX | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $311,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,622⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $111,123 ✓ Higher | $92,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 43 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 25 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PEARLAND ISD | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer | 59.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.3" | 31.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 124,478 | 178,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.2 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 28.0% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pearland's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Pearland is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pearland leads 16 of 22 categories. Pearland wins 16 and Santa Rosa wins 6. 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 Pearland to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($311,100 vs $661,700 median home), income ($111,123 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pearland, TX and Santa Rosa, CA are about 1,677 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.