Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roswell, GA
VS
San Diego, CA
🏆 Roswell leads 18 of 23 categories
Roswell
Georgia
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$122,924 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
92,770
San Diego
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,657
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
1,383,987 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Roswell, GA
Pros
Homes cost $304k less ($479,400 vs $783,300)
61% less violent crime than San Diego
Rent averages $461/mo less ($1,619 vs $2,080)
Households earn $24,267 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.3%)
Cons
Longer commutes — 29.1 min average each way
San Diego, CA
Pros
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 52°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $783,300
Higher rents — median is $2,080/mo
Median income trails Roswell by $24,267/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Roswell
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Roswell
Median Income
$24,267
$122,924 vs $98,657/yr
Roswell
Violent Crime
61% lower
160.1 vs 412.2 per 100k
Roswell
Median Home Value
$304k less
$479,400 vs $783,300
Roswell
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Roswell
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 79.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roswell, GA | San Diego, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $479,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $783,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,619⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,080⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $122,924 ✓ Higher | $98,657 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.1 min⚠ High | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 16.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 45 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 49 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 63.4% ✓ Higher | 48.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 89.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fulton County | San Diego Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,770 | 1,383,987 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 35.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.8% ✓ Higher | 47.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 19.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roswell's cost of living index is 100.9 vs San Diego's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Roswell is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roswell leads 18 of 23 categories. Roswell wins 18 and San Diego wins 5. 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 Roswell to San Diego or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($479,400 vs $783,300 median home), income ($122,924 vs $98,657), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roswell, GA and San Diego, CA are about 1,884 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.