Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rialto, CA
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Santa Rosa leads 14 of 22 categories
Rialto
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$80,750
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High
Population
103,873
Santa Rosa
California
14
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.
Rialto, CA
Pros
Homes cost $243k less ($418,300 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $471/mo less ($1,553 vs $2,024)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 60°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Cons
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $11,854/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 5.6%)
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
47% less violent crime than Rialto
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (5.6%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $11,854 more per year on average
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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Rialto
Key Differences at a Glance
Rialto
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Rialto
Median Home Value
$243k less
$418,300 vs $661,700
Rialto
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$11,854
$92,604 vs $80,750/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
47% lower
342.6 vs 641.7 per 100k
Santa Rosa
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
5.6% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rialto, CA | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $418,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,553⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,750 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.4% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 169⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B- (90) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 19.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.3% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rialto Unified | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer | 59.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 31.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 103,873 | 178,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.2 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rialto's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Rialto is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Santa Rosa leads 14 of 22 categories. Rialto wins 8 and Santa Rosa wins 14. 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 Rialto to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($418,300 vs $661,700 median home), income ($80,750 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rialto, CA and Santa Rosa, CA are about 421 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.