Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pueblo, CO
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Santa Rosa leads 12 of 22 categories
Pueblo
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,794
Violent Crime Index
375⚠ High
Population
111,430
Santa Rosa
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
90 ✓ Safer
Population
178,221 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pueblo, CO
Pros
Homes cost $464k less ($197,700 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $1084/mo less ($940 vs $2,024)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $39,810/yr
Violent crime (1424.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4942.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.6%)
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,810 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Pueblo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Pueblo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pueblo
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Pueblo
Median Home Value
$464k less
$197,700 vs $661,700
Pueblo
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.0°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$39,810
$92,604 vs $52,794/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
76% lower
342.6 vs 1424.1 per 100k
Santa Rosa
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pueblo, CO | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $197,700 ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $940 ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,794 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 319⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 375⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 235⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (90) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.8% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pueblo School District No. 60 in the county of Pueblo and | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.0°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 31.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,430 | 178,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 18.3% | 18.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pueblo's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Pueblo is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Santa Rosa leads 12 of 22 categories. Pueblo wins 10 and Santa Rosa wins 12. 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 Pueblo to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,700 vs $661,700 median home), income ($52,794 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pueblo, CO and Santa Rosa, CA are about 979 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.