Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Rosa, CA
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 15 of 23 categories
Santa Rosa
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
90
Population
178,221
Virginia Beach
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,544
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 50°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 87°F
Households earn $5,060 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Virginia Beach
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
Homes cost $318k less ($343,700 vs $661,700)
73% less violent crime than Santa Rosa
Rent averages $456/mo less ($1,568 vs $2,024)
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.3%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $5,060/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$5,060
$92,604 vs $87,544/yr
Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
73% lower
92.3 vs 342.6 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Median Home Value
$318k less
$343,700 vs $661,700
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.6% unemployment
Virginia Beach
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Rosa, CA | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 110.1⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $661,700⚠ High | $343,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,024⚠ High | $1,568⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,604 ✓ Higher | $87,544 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.5:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.7% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rincon Valley Union Elementary | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 31.5" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 178,221 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.4 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.3% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Rosa's cost of living index is 110.1 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Virginia Beach is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 15 of 23 categories. Santa Rosa wins 8 and Virginia Beach wins 15. 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 Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($661,700 vs $343,700 median home), income ($92,604 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Rosa, CA and Virginia Beach, VA are about 2,530 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.