Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Rosa, CA
VS
Victorville, CA
🏆 Santa Rosa leads 14 of 22 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
Victorville
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,746
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
134,417
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
66% less violent crime than Victorville
Households earn $26,858 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (5.6%)
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Victorville
Victorville, CA
Pros
Homes cost $361k less ($300,600 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $563/mo less ($1,461 vs $2,024)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $26,858/yr
Violent crime (1015.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.3% vs 5.6%)
Longer commutes — 40.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$26,858
$92,604 vs $65,746/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
66% lower
342.6 vs 1015.6 per 100k
Santa Rosa
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
5.6% vs 10.3% unemployment
Victorville
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Victorville
Median Home Value
$361k less
$300,600 vs $661,700
Victorville
Summer Heat
15.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Rosa, CA | Victorville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 110.1⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $661,700⚠ High | $300,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,024⚠ High | $1,461⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,604 ✓ Higher | $65,746 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter | 40.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 9.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) ✓ Better | C- (57) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.7% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% ✓ Higher | 77.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rincon Valley Union Elementary | Victor Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer | 58.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 31.5" | 5.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 178,221 ✓ Larger | 134,417 |
| Median Age | 40.4 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% | 59.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 30.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.3% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Rosa's cost of living index is 110.1 vs Victorville's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Victorville is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Santa Rosa leads 14 of 22 categories. Santa Rosa wins 14 and Victorville wins 8. 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 Victorville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($661,700 vs $300,600 median home), income ($92,604 vs $65,746), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Rosa, CA and Victorville, CA are about 402 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.