Should I Move To
Santa Rosa, California is home to about 178,221 people. On cost of living, it lands in the expensive band — 23% above the national average. The median renter pays around $2,024 a month against a typical household income of $92,604. Our composite UrbRank Score lands at 72 out of 100 (grade B), putting it at #5 nationally.
UrbRank Score · General
Each dimension scored 0-100 against every other US city.
Based on overall cost of living vs. other US cities.
Inverse of violent + property crime rate per 100,000 residents.
Temperate summers & winters, moderate precipitation.
Walk Score — how feasible daily errands are on foot.
Unemployment rate plus household income vs. national median.
Air quality index (EPA AQS data).
Share of residents 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
Santa Rosa's composite cost-of-living index lands at 123 (100 = US average), which puts it in the expensive band. At $2,024/mo against $92,604 in median household income, the typical renter spends about 26% of income on housing — right inside the standard 30%-of-income guideline. Median home value sits around $661,700.
Full cost-of-living breakdown →Climate is mild — summer averages around 73°F, winter averages around 45°F. Precipitation totals about 20 inches a year. Walkability is exceptional — most residents can live without a car if they want to. Crime sits a notch better than the national norm — not crime-free, but a step above average. Air quality reads good (AQI 36).
Verdict by lifestyle profile — same data, different priorities.
Santa Rosa reads as a moderate fit for families. It earns 62/100 (grade C+) on the families profile. Strongest on climate (99/100); weakest on affordability (17/100).
Santa Rosa reads as a moderate fit for retirees. It earns 72/100 (grade B) on the retirees profile. Strongest on climate (99/100); weakest on affordability (17/100).
Santa Rosa reads as a moderate fit for remote workers. It earns 64/100 (grade C+) on the remote workers profile. Strongest on climate (99/100); weakest on affordability (17/100).
Santa Rosa reads as a moderate fit for young professionals. It earns 68/100 (grade B-) on the young professionals profile. Strongest on climate (99/100); weakest on affordability (17/100).
Santa Rosa, California pulls a 72/100 overall on the UrbRank Score (grade B), currently ranked #5 nationally. The composite weights seven lifestyle dimensions: affordability, safety, climate, walkability, jobs, environment, and education.
Santa Rosa's cost-of-living index is 123 (with 100 as the US average), which lands in the expensive band — 23% above the national average. Median rent runs about $2,024/mo.
Mild — summer averages around 73°F, winter averages around 45°F, with about 20 inches of precipitation a year.
Walk Score: 91/100. Walkability is exceptional — most residents can live without a car if they want to.
Santa Rosa has about 178,221 residents, 35% of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher with a median age of 40.
Use UrbRank's comparison tool to put Santa Rosa head-to-head against any other US city — housing, salaries, demographics, and quality-of-life metrics side by side. The leaderboard pages also show how Santa Rosa stacks up for families, retirees, remote workers, and young professionals specifically.
Every US city is scored 0-100 on seven dimensions using public data from the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA Air Quality System, NOAA NCEI, and Walk Score. Each dimension is a percentile rank against every other city — so a score of 80 means the city is in the top 20% nationally on that dimension.
The overall score is a weighted average. Five lifestyle profiles — general, families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals — weight the dimensions differently to reflect what each cares about. Families get more weight on safety and schools; young professionals get more weight on jobs and walkability; retirees get more weight on climate.
Compare Santa Rosa with other California cities scored on UrbRank.
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