Firstly why Santa-Rosa, California?

I’ll start with some quick stats and an overview:

• City: Santa-Rosa
• State: California
• Population: 178,681 people
• Santa-Rosa’s quick summary would be Known for its pivotal role in California’s wine industry and the nearby Armstrong Redwoods.

Some people I know rave about this place, others say it’s on the upswing or going through changes. Check out these migration details:

• How many people move-in: 12,000 annually
• While this many move-out: 7,000 annually
• Net Migration: 5000 more people in (net) annual change
• Non-Citizen Move-in: 2,000
• Number of Homeless people: 500

You might wonder why people choose to move here, I’d say generally because it home to wine country attracts those interested in agriculture and fine living

Perk #1: Santa-Rosa Demographic Mix & Lifestyle

• The percentage of Residents Age 30–50 is about 35%
• Percentage of Home Ownership is hovering around 49%
• Largest Local Ethnic Group is White
• The 2nd Largest Ethnic Group is mostly White
• The median income is (and growing)  $75,000
• Income Required to Live Comfortably in Santa-Rosa is $78,000
• Average Extra Spending Money after paying bills yearly is approx. $3000 in positive cash flow

This and any cities local population can be a real melting pot—or sometimes it’s more homogeneous, depending on the area. Ask yourself: would you enjoy a bustling community with diverse backgrounds, or do you prefer a quieter, tight-knit vibe?

Perk #2: Housing & Santa-Rosa’s Cost of Living

• Cost of Living Index: 150 (100 is the US average)
• Annual Property Tax Per House: $4,845
• Property Tax %: 1.11%
• Rent for an average 2BD Apartment: $1,400
• Rent for an average house: $2,500
• Popular and Expensive Neighborhood: Santa Rosa
• Top 5 Growing Areas: Santa-Rosa, Rohnert-Park, Petaluma, Sebastopol, and probably could include Windsor
• Avg. Age of Homes in Santa-Rosa: 49 years
• The Percentage of Realtors per 100 people here: 1.5%

If the cost-of-living index is low, you might find a place without selling your kidney. If it’s high, well, you’ll need to budget carefully. Some income earners thrive in pricey markets, others prefer less financially stressful areas.

Perk #3: Job Market & Santa-Rosa’s Economy

• 3 Industries gaining traction in Santa-Rosa are  Agriculture, Retail, and Healthcare
• Santa-Rosa Job Scene: steady job market primarily in healthcare and wine industry
• The General Tech Scene: developing tech initiatives with a growing focus on sustainability and agriculture tech , ,
• Santa-Rosa Resident’s pay $1,200 in City Tax alone!
• Local Sales Tax in Santa-Rosa: 9.25%
• No. of Independent Businesses: 110 (excluding chains and corporates)
• Number of Local Branch Banks: 5

Maybe you’re a go-getter in finance, tech, or healthcare. Or you’d rather open a mom-and-pop shop. Either way, it’s worth checking if the local industries align with your skill set—or if you’re game to try something new.

Perk #4: Transportation & Commuting in Santa-Rosa

• Monthly Transportation Costs: $160 on average per person
• Freeway Access: U.S. Route 101 runs through Santa Rosa linking it to the Bay Area
• Commute Time: 25 minutes (public & private)
• Main Evening Traffic Area: slowdowns on Highway 101
• Transportation Score: 50 out of 100 described as Good Transit
• No. of Vehicles Registered in Santa-Rosa: 65,000
• Cars registered per Person: 0.4
• No. of Car Washes: 5 in and around the city
• DMV Website for Santa-Rosa: dmv.ca.gov
• The Bike-Friendly Score: 68 of 100
• Local Airport: Santa Rosa

Is a 15-minute commute your dream, or is 45 minutes stuck on the freeway a dealbreaker? If you can handle traffic or love public transit, this might be perfect. If not, brace yourself with a killer podcast lineup.

Perk #5: Santa-Rosa’s Weather & Natural Factors

• The Most Common Natural Disaster is Wildfires
• General Weather in Santa-Rosa is best described as experiences mild winters with cool temperatures and warm summers with occasional heat waves
• Winter Weather in Santa-Rosa i’d describe as cool with occasional rain
• Spring Weather in Santa-Rosa can be described as mild with occasional rain
• Summer’s in Santa-Rosa are mostly warm and mild
• Fall ( the nicest time) in Santa-Rosa is usually cool and crisp
• How many days in a row over 90°F: 9 days in summer
• Days in a row in Santa-Rosa below Freezing: 0
• Average Annual Rainfall: 32 inches
• Summer Air Quality is usually good air quality generally maintained by location
• Santa-Rosa Winter Air good air quality with few pollution events during winter

Do you live for sunny skies? Or maybe you can’t stand humidity. Some relish snowy winters; others run south at the first snowflake. And if hurricanes, tornadoes, or earthquakes are part of the package, put all that into your consideration matrix.

Perk #6: Santa-Rosa Education & Schools

• The GreatSchools.org City Rating:
• Number of Colleges and Universities in Santa-Rosa 4
• While the number of trade schools inside Santa-Rosas’s city limits are 1
• Library that I have visited and enjoyed is the Santa Rosa City Libraries

If you’ve got kids—or you’re looking to further your own education—solid school ratings and local colleges can be a huge perk. If not, hey, a good library have more gems that you didn’t know existed, check it out.

Perk #7: Healthcare & Santa-Rosa Stats

• Typical EMS Response Time: 10 minutes
• Registered Full-Time Santa-Rosa only Doctors is about 65
• Local Hospitals here is  5
• Full-time Santa-Rosa only Police Officers is about 100
• Crime Rate Index: 20/100

Medical facilities could be important to you and who knows it could be related to the crime stats. Again some stats that are worth considering.

Perk #8: Utilities, Gyms & Water Quality

• Santa-Rosa’s Monthly utility bill average is $190
• Santa-Rosa’s Monthly Gym Membership: $62
• Santa-Rosa’s Water Quality Score: 81

Some of us freak out if water tastes off, others don’t mind. Gym buffs will appreciate a cheap membership; others prefer running outside for free. Check if these monthly costs fit inside your realistic lifestyle.

Perk #9: Events, Festivals & Vibe in Santa-Rosa

• Approx number of Festivals the city puts on is 8 annually
• The General Local City Vibe: vibrant wine country city with a rich arts scene
• You might enjoy shows at the Luther Burbank Center
• Nightlife Scene (yes this is completely subjective), Santa-Rosa  features a rich wine country scene with local wine bars and breweries providing evening enjoyment

If you love a lively social calendar—fairs, concerts, maybe the odd chili cook-off—this is your jam. If crowds make you itch, you might only show up for the funnel cakes.

Perk #10: The Food, Sports & Culture of Santa-Rosa

• The Objective Restaurant Scene Features local wineries and diverse restaurant choices
• The Number of Independent Restaurants are 30 scattered around Santa-Rosa
• The Popular Sports Team is Santa Rosa Junior College
• Top Level Political Climate in Santa-Rosa can be described as liberal city with strong environmental and social initiatives
• Santa-Rosa’s Longer standing religious establishment is First Congregational Church

Whether you’re a foodie wanting fancy cuisine or a sports nut who can’t miss the local team’s home game, see if your interests line up with what the city offers.

Perk #11: Santa-Rosa Parks & Green Spaces

• Did you know Santa-Rosa has 30 Parks?
• Howarth Park is Santa-Rosa’s Green Space Center
• The local favorite Farmers Market is Santa Rosa Farmers Market normally open Thursday 6pm-9pm
• Outdoor Activities that both weekend warriors are pro’s can enjoy are Wine tasting, hiking, and cycling

Love fresh air? A city investing in parks and markets can be a sanity-saver. If you prefer the indoors, maybe it’s less of a draw—but I still say fresh produce is never a bad thing.

Perk #12: Santa-Rosa Neighborhoods Pace & Proximity

• The Pace of Life in Santa-Rosa can be described as moderate pace blending culture with natural beauty
• 3 Family-Friendly Activities anyone can enjoy in Santa-Rosa exploring parks going to local fairs artistic workshops
• The Cities people commute to from Santa-Rosa are Rohnert-Park 7 miles away Petaluma 10 miles away Napa 24 miles away

Neighborhood pace can range from laid-back suburbs to frantic downtown vibes. If you need a quick getaway, big neighboring cities can scratch that itch for a weekend change of scene.

8 Drawbacks about Santa-Rosa or are they?

No place is perfect. I rate these as important based on your location and type of work you do. They might not be negatives or positives for everyone.

1. Traffic/Commute Issues
   Maybe you read: slowdowns on Highway 101. If you hate gridlock, look at alternative routes or brace yourself with podcasts.
2. Natural Disaster or Extreme Weather
   Santa-Rosa’s Wildfires risk could be minimal or major. Dig more on that is your eyebrow just went up.
3. Pricey Neighborhoods
   If Santa Rosa is out of your price point, you might consider these places nearby Santa-Rosa are Rohnert-Park 7 miles away Petaluma 10 miles away Napa 24 miles away.
4. Crime Rate Concerns
   With a 20 of 100, some neighborhoods might feel safer than others. Everyone has a different tolerance for this.
5. Harsh Climate Contrasts
   Santa-Rosa has 0 days in a row below freezing and 9 days above 90 degrees. This might be your heaven or your nightmare. Some people can’t stand snow, while others pray for it.
6. Limited Extra Funds
   After general costs of living here in Santa-Rosa people have an average (positive or negative) $3000 in positive cash flow left over in income to spend or pay off. Economics will make or break you here.
7. Homelessness or Social Challenges
   500 homeless people living in Santa-Rosa. It can be tough for the community—no easy solutions.
8. Cultural/Political Mismatch
   The general liberal city with strong environmental and social initiatives could change but probably not quickly. We all go thru cycles in our lifestyle and outlook. Think about this and your future outlook before a move to Santa-Rosa.

Retiree & Senior Life in Santa-Rosa

• Retiree Tax Benefits say seniors can may see financial relief from property tax exemptions
• The most established Senior Citizen Community is Brookdale Santa Rosa
• Santa Rosa Senior Center organizes social events wellness programs and arts activities

If you’re in (or nearing) retirement, see if the city provides property tax breaks or comfy 55+ communities. Some places cater heavily to seniors, others less so.

Moving to Santa-Rosa, California?

If Santa-Rosa, California ir your next home or you are packing up, Let Allied Van Lines Help

As someone who’s hauled half his life across state lines more times than I can recall, let me say that Allied Van Lines simplifies the process. From big bulky couches to fragile antiques, they’ve got you covered.

A quick quote or phone call might be all you need to turn your daydream into reality. If you see me around Santa-Rosa, California, say hi—I’m the guy who once moved with nothing but a backpack and a guitar. Good luck on your new adventure!