Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portland, OR
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Santa Rosa leads 13 of 22 categories
Portland
Oregon
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,876
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ 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.
Portland, OR
Pros
Rent averages $494/mo less ($1,530 vs $2,024)
Homes cost $139k less ($523,100 vs $661,700)
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 16.0:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Cons
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $6,728/yr
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
52% less violent crime than Portland
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 47°F
Households earn $6,728 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Portland
Key Differences at a Glance
Portland
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Portland
Median Home Value
$139k less
$523,100 vs $661,700
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$6,728
$92,604 vs $85,876/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
52% lower
342.6 vs 720.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $523,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,876 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.0% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 219⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 263⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.5% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portland SD 1J | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.9°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 81.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.9" | 31.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 646,101 ✓ Larger | 178,221 |
| Median Age | 38.3 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portland's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Portland is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Santa Rosa leads 13 of 22 categories. Portland wins 9 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 Portland to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($523,100 vs $661,700 median home), income ($85,876 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portland, OR and Santa Rosa, CA are about 490 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.