Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Rosa, CA
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Santa Rosa
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604
Violent Crime Index
90
Population
178,221 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Commutes run 21 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
Rent averages $138/mo less ($2,024 vs $2,162)
Smaller class sizes — 19.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $19,113/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Tracy
Tracy, CA
Pros
12% less violent crime than Santa Rosa
Households earn $19,113 more per year on average
Homes cost $44k less ($617,300 vs $661,700)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Cons
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Tracy
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Tracy
Median Income
$19,113
$111,717 vs $92,604/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
12% lower
301.4 vs 342.6 per 100k
Tracy
Median Home Value
$44k less
$617,300 vs $661,700
Tracy
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Rosa, CA | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 110.1⚠ High | 107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $661,700⚠ High | $617,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,024⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,604 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.7% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rincon Valley Union Elementary | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 31.5" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 178,221 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 40.4 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.3% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Rosa's cost of living index is 110.1 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Tracy is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Santa Rosa wins 11 and Tracy 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 Santa Rosa to Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($661,700 vs $617,300 median home), income ($92,604 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Rosa, CA and Tracy, CA are about 84 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.