Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roanoke, VA
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Santa Rosa leads 13 of 23 categories
Roanoke
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $500k less ($162,000 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $1107/mo less ($917 vs $2,024)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $41,081/yr
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.6%)
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Households earn $41,081 more per year on average
45% less violent crime than Roanoke
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 47°F
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Roanoke
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Roanoke
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$500k less
$162,000 vs $661,700
Roanoke
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 88.1°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$41,081
$92,604 vs $51,523/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
45% lower
342.6 vs 620.4 per 100k
Santa Rosa
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roanoke, VA | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $162,000 ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,523 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Roanoke City Public Schools | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.1°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 31.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,213 | 178,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.2% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 17.6% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roanoke's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Rosa leads 13 of 23 categories. Roanoke wins 10 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 Roanoke to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($162,000 vs $661,700 median home), income ($51,523 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roanoke, VA and Santa Rosa, CA are about 2,312 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.