Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roswell, GA
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Roswell leads 16 of 23 categories
Roswell
Georgia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$122,924 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
92,770
Santa Maria
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
109,543 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Roswell, GA
Pros
76% less violent crime than Santa Maria
Households earn $41,687 more per year on average
More college-educated — 63.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.3%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $479,400
Longer commutes — 29.1 min average each way
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 89°F
Homes cost $41k less ($438,100 vs $479,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 52°F
Cons
Median income trails Roswell by $41,687/yr
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Roswell
Key Differences at a Glance
Roswell
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Roswell
Median Income
$41,687
$122,924 vs $81,237/yr
Roswell
Violent Crime
76% lower
160.1 vs 660.6 per 100k
Roswell
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.3% unemployment
Roswell
Summer Heat
16.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 73.3°F
Santa Maria
Median Home Value
$41k less
$438,100 vs $479,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roswell, GA | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $479,400⚠ High | $438,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,619⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $122,924 ✓ Higher | $81,237 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.1 min⚠ High | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 45 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 49 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 63.4% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fulton County | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,770 | 109,543 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.8% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roswell's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Roswell is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roswell leads 16 of 23 categories. Roswell wins 16 and Santa Maria wins 7. 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 Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($479,400 vs $438,100 median home), income ($122,924 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roswell, GA and Santa Maria, CA are about 2,045 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.