Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pompano Beach, FL
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Santa Rosa leads 11 of 19 categories
Pompano Beach
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,155
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
111,790
Santa Rosa
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,604 ✓ Higher
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.
Pompano Beach, FL
Pros
Homes cost $368k less ($293,300 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $497/mo less ($1,527 vs $2,024)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 60°F
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $31,449/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 5.6%)
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,449 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.6%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.5:1 student-teacher ratio
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)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pompano Beach
Median Home Value
$368k less
$293,300 vs $661,700
Pompano Beach
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 110.1 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$31,449
$92,604 vs $61,155/yr
Santa Rosa
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pompano Beach, FL | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 110.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $293,300 ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,527⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,155 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.7%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.9% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 79 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 90 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 63 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 19.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.1% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.2% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 59.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.6" | 31.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,790 | 178,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.5 ✓ Older | 40.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.1% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.6% ✓ More | 18.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pompano Beach's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Santa Rosa is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Santa Rosa leads 11 of 19 categories. Pompano Beach wins 8 and Santa Rosa wins 11. 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 Pompano Beach to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($293,300 vs $661,700 median home), income ($61,155 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pompano Beach, FL and Santa Rosa, CA are about 2,598 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.