Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roseville, CA
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Roseville leads 19 of 23 categories
Roseville
California
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$112,265 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
148,879
Tacoma
Washington
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Roseville, CA
Pros
79% less violent crime than Tacoma
Households earn $33,180 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $596,700
Higher rents — median is $1,940/mo
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Homes cost $181k less ($415,300 vs $596,700)
Rent averages $451/mo less ($1,489 vs $1,940)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Roseville by $33,180/yr
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Roseville
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Roseville
Median Income
$33,180
$112,265 vs $79,085/yr
Roseville
Violent Crime
79% lower
219.2 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Roseville
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.4% unemployment
Roseville
Summer Heat
16.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$181k less
$415,300 vs $596,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roseville, CA | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $596,700⚠ High | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,940⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $112,265 ✓ Higher | $79,085 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.1% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 62 ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.6:1 | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 90.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Roseville City Elementary | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.2" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,879 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.8 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 68.1% ✓ Higher | 56.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 17.1% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roseville's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Roseville is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roseville leads 19 of 23 categories. Roseville wins 19 and Tacoma wins 4. 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 Roseville to Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($596,700 vs $415,300 median home), income ($112,265 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roseville, CA and Tacoma, WA are about 589 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.