Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Rosa, CA
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 17 of 22 categories
Santa Rosa
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
90
Population
178,221 ✓ Larger
Surprise
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,756
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 105°F
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,848 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.6%)
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Surprise, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $309k less ($352,600 vs $661,700)
68% less violent crime than Santa Rosa
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.6%)
Rent averages $202/mo less ($1,822 vs $2,024)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Cons
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $4,848/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$4,848
$92,604 vs $87,756/yr
Surprise
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Violent Crime
68% lower
109.1 vs 342.6 per 100k
Surprise
Median Home Value
$309k less
$352,600 vs $661,700
Surprise
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.6% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
23.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Rosa, CA | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 110.1⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $661,700⚠ High | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,024⚠ High | $1,822⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,604 ✓ Higher | $87,756 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.7% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rincon Valley Union Elementary | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.7°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 31.5" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 178,221 ✓ Larger | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 40.4 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.3% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Rosa's cost of living index is 110.1 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Surprise leads 17 of 22 categories. Santa Rosa wins 5 and Surprise wins 17. 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($661,700 vs $352,600 median home), income ($92,604 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Rosa, CA and Surprise, AZ are about 660 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.