Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Providence, RI
VS
Santa Clara, CA
🏆 Santa Clara leads 13 of 23 categories
Providence
Rhode Island
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
Santa Clara
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
128,058
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Providence, RI
Pros
Homes cost $1147k less ($293,000 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $1627/mo less ($1,214 vs $2,841)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clara
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clara by $103,987/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.2%)
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
Households earn $103,987 more per year on average
34% less violent crime than Providence
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 64.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,440,200
Higher rents — median is $2,841/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Providence
Key Differences at a Glance
Providence
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Providence
Median Home Value
$1147k less
$293,000 vs $1,440,200
Santa Clara
Median Income
$103,987
$165,352 vs $61,365/yr
Santa Clara
Violent Crime
34% lower
182.0 vs 276.7 per 100k
Santa Clara
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Providence, RI | Santa Clara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $293,000 ✓ Lower | $1,440,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,214 ✓ Lower | $2,841⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,365 | $165,352 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 21.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.5% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Providence | Santa Clara Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer | 80.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.5" | 15.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 189,715 ✓ Larger | 128,058 |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 41.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.8% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Providence's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Santa Clara's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Providence is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Clara leads 13 of 23 categories. Providence wins 10 and Santa Clara 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 Providence to Santa Clara or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($293,000 vs $1,440,200 median home), income ($61,365 vs $165,352), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Providence, RI and Santa Clara, CA are about 2,670 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.