Santa Rosa, CA

Santa Rosa CA scores 66/100 on safety (about average). Crime is about 18% below the national average. Pick the neighborhood carefully. Some ZIPs are fine, others are not.

Detail: overall crime index 82 (100 = avg); violent crime index 91; property crime index 73. Indexes near 100 track a typical U.S. load. Higher means more crime pressure on that category.

School quality varies by neighborhood in Santa Rosa. Check GreatSchools.org or your local district for current ratings before you choose a ZIP.

Typical rent in Santa Rosa is about $2,152/month (expensive). At $2,152/month for a typical unit, you need about $77,472+ in household income to rent comfortably without stretching (3× rent × 12). Typical home value: $713,900.

Median household income is $99,060, property taxes run about 1.45%, and homes typically sell in around 28 days. Local median income ($99,060) clears the $77,472 comfort line for that rent.

Walk Score 68 (Somewhat Walkable); transit score 42 (Some Transit).

Average temperature is about 77°F (highs near 91°F, lows near 63°F).

Most of the year is outdoor-friendly; peak summer still needs AC for comfort. Cooling costs matter more than heating for most of the year. If you visit, go in late summer so you feel the heat, not just a mild weekend.

Who tends to thrive in Santa Rosa: (1) Dual-income households (at $2,152/month, the rent math works much better with two salaries) (2) People who genuinely love heat and do not mind living indoors June through September (highs near 91°F) (3) Tech and finance workers (the job market is real and local pay near $99,060 helps carry housing costs) (4) Households earning $77,472+ who can clear the 3× rent rule at $2,152/month

Who should look elsewhere: (1) People with young kids who want to let them roam freely (crime pressure is real here; safety 66/100) (2) Single earners under $70k (the rent-to-income ratio is tight at $2,152/month) (3) People who need outdoor time year-round for their mental health (summers lock you inside for 3–4 months; highs near 91°F)

Income sniff test: clear about $77,472 household income for $2,152/month rent. Under that, pick a cheaper ZIP or a different city.

Santa Rosa holds up well on the core metrics we publish. Safety at 66/100 makes it a reasonable choice for households who can manage $2,152/month rent. Verify school ratings for your target ZIP separately.