Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Phoenix, AZ
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Phoenix leads 13 of 23 categories
Phoenix
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Santa Rosa
California
10
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.
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $322k less ($340,200 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $702/mo less ($1,322 vs $2,024)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 60°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $20,512/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
57% less violent crime than Phoenix
Households earn $20,512 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 104°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Phoenix
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Phoenix
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$322k less
$340,200 vs $661,700
Phoenix
Summer Heat
22.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$20,512
$92,604 vs $72,092/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
57% lower
342.6 vs 799.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,322 ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,092 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.9% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 59.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 31.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger | 178,221 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Phoenix's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 13 of 23 categories. Phoenix wins 13 and Santa Rosa wins 10. 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 Phoenix to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($340,200 vs $661,700 median home), income ($72,092 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Phoenix, AZ and Santa Rosa, CA are about 682 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.