Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Rosa, CA
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 Santa Rosa leads 15 of 22 categories
Santa Rosa
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
90 ✓ Safer
Population
178,221 ✓ Larger
South Gate
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
35% less violent crime than South Gate
Households earn $25,416 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
5% cheaper overall cost of living than South Gate
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
South Gate, CA
Pros
Rent averages $624/mo less ($1,400 vs $2,024)
Homes cost $83k less ($578,900 vs $661,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 60°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $25,416/yr
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3598.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Rosa
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 110.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$25,416
$92,604 vs $67,188/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
35% lower
342.6 vs 525.6 per 100k
Santa Rosa
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.9% unemployment
South Gate
Median Home Value
$83k less
$578,900 vs $661,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Rosa, CA | South Gate, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 110.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $661,700⚠ High | $578,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,024⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,604 ✓ Higher | $67,188 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.5:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.7% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rincon Valley Union Elementary | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.7°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 82.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 31.5" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 178,221 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 40.4 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.3% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Rosa's cost of living index is 110.1 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Santa Rosa is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Santa Rosa leads 15 of 22 categories. Santa Rosa wins 15 and South Gate 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 Santa Rosa to South Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($661,700 vs $578,900 median home), income ($92,604 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Rosa, CA and South Gate, CA are about 400 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.