Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Rosa, CA
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Santa Rosa leads 14 of 23 categories
Santa Rosa
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
90 ✓ Safer
Population
178,221 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Missouri
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,154 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Springfield
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 43°F
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Springfield
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $515k less ($146,400 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $1146/mo less ($878 vs $2,024)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $49,154/yr
Violent crime (1178.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4184.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$49,154
$92,604 vs $43,450/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
71% lower
342.6 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Springfield
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$515k less
$146,400 vs $661,700
Springfield
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.6% unemployment
Springfield
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Rosa, CA | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 110.1⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $661,700⚠ High | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,024⚠ High | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,604 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.5:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.7% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rincon Valley Union Elementary | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 31.5" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 178,221 ✓ Larger | 168,873 |
| Median Age | 40.4 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 18.3% ✓ More | 15.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Rosa's cost of living index is 110.1 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Rosa leads 14 of 23 categories. Santa Rosa wins 14 and Springfield wins 9. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($661,700 vs $146,400 median home), income ($92,604 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Rosa, CA and Springfield, MO are about 1,601 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.