Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roswell, GA
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 Roswell leads 15 of 23 categories
Roswell
Georgia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$122,924 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
92,770
San Marcos
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413
Violent Crime Index
59
Population
94,360 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Roswell, GA
Pros
Homes cost $249k less ($479,400 vs $728,800)
28% less violent crime than San Marcos
Rent averages $445/mo less ($1,619 vs $2,064)
Households earn $23,511 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 63.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
San Marcos, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 52°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Median income trails Roswell by $23,511/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
$23,511
$122,924 vs $99,413/yr
Roswell
Violent Crime
28% lower
160.1 vs 222.4 per 100k
Roswell
Median Home Value
$249k less
$479,400 vs $728,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roswell, GA | San Marcos, 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 | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,619⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $122,924 ✓ Higher | $99,413 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.1 min⚠ High | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 16.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 45 ✓ Safer | 48 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 59 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 49 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 63.4% ✓ Higher | 41.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 87.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fulton County | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,770 | 94,360 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.8% ✓ Higher | 61.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roswell's cost of living index is 100.9 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Roswell is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roswell leads 15 of 23 categories. Roswell wins 15 and San Marcos wins 8. 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 Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($479,400 vs $728,800 median home), income ($122,924 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roswell, GA and San Marcos, CA are about 1,882 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.