Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Plano, TX
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Plano leads 16 of 23 categories
Plano
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Santa Rosa
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604
Violent Crime Index
90
Population
178,221
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Plano, TX
Pros
Homes cost $249k less ($412,500 vs $661,700)
56% less violent crime than Santa Rosa
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $325/mo less ($1,699 vs $2,024)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Median income trails Plano by $13,075/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Plano
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Plano
Median Income
$13,075
$105,679 vs $92,604/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
56% lower
151.6 vs 342.6 per 100k
Plano
Median Home Value
$249k less
$412,500 vs $661,700
Plano
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Plano, TX | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $412,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,699⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,679 ✓ Higher | $92,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.8 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.3% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 52 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (134) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.4% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PLANO ISD | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 31.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,948 ✓ Larger | 178,221 |
| Median Age | 38.9 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Plano's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Plano is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 16 of 23 categories. Plano wins 16 and Santa Rosa wins 7. 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 Plano to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($412,500 vs $661,700 median home), income ($105,679 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Plano, TX and Santa Rosa, CA are about 1,497 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.