Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Santa Rosa leads 13 of 23 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Santa Rosa
California
13
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.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $446k less ($215,500 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $774/mo less ($1,250 vs $2,024)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $35,067/yr
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.6%)
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,067 more per year on average
62% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.6%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 42°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 89°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 7% higher than Philadelphia
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 103.5 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$446k less
$215,500 vs $661,700
Philadelphia
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$35,067
$92,604 vs $57,537/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
62% lower
342.6 vs 908.7 per 100k
Santa Rosa
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 31.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 178,221 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Philadelphia is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Rosa leads 13 of 23 categories. Philadelphia wins 10 and Santa Rosa wins 13. 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 Philadelphia to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $661,700 median home), income ($57,537 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Santa Rosa, CA are about 2,518 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.