Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Salt Lake City, UT
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Salt Lake City leads 13 of 23 categories
Salt Lake City
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,357
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269 ✓ Larger
Santa Rosa
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
90 ✓ Safer
Population
178,221
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Rent averages $770/mo less ($1,254 vs $2,024)
Homes cost $203k less ($458,600 vs $661,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.6%)
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $20,247/yr
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
60% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Households earn $20,247 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 40°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Salt Lake City
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Salt Lake City
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Salt Lake City
Median Home Value
$203k less
$458,600 vs $661,700
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.6% unemployment
Salt Lake City
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$20,247
$92,604 vs $72,357/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
60% lower
342.6 vs 864.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Salt Lake City, UT | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $458,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,254 ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,357 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.9% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 236⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.2% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Salt Lake District | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.7°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.7" ✓ Drier | 31.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,269 ✓ Larger | 178,221 |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Salt Lake City's cost of living index is 97.7 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Salt Lake City is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salt Lake City leads 13 of 23 categories. Salt Lake City wins 13 and Santa Rosa wins 10. 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 Salt Lake City to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($458,600 vs $661,700 median home), income ($72,357 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Salt Lake City, UT and Santa Rosa, CA are about 595 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.