Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Jose, CA
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
San Jose
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Santa Rosa
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,604
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.
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $43,406 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Homes cost $488k less ($661,700 vs $1,149,600)
44% less violent crime than San Jose
Rent averages $502/mo less ($2,024 vs $2,526)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
3% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $43,406/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Jose
Median Income
$43,406
$136,010 vs $92,604/yr
San Jose
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.6% unemployment
Santa Rosa
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 110.1 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
44% lower
342.6 vs 606.8 per 100k
Santa Rosa
Median Home Value
$488k less
$661,700 vs $1,149,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Jose, CA | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.9⚠ High | 110.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,149,600⚠ High | $661,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,526⚠ High | $2,024⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,010 ✓ Higher | $92,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.8 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 19.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 85.5% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Jose Unified | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.8" ✓ Drier | 31.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger | 178,221 |
| Median Age | 37.8 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Jose's cost of living index is 112.9 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Santa Rosa is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. San Jose wins 11 and Santa Rosa wins 11. 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 San Jose to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,149,600 vs $661,700 median home), income ($136,010 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Jose, CA and Santa Rosa, CA are about 93 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.