Santa Rosa CA vs Worcester MA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
Santa Rosa, CA
California · Population: 129,239
- Median HH Income$173,670
- Median Home Price$720,443
- Unemployment4.4%
- Bachelor's+65.3%
Worcester, MA
Massachusetts · Population: 205,501
- Median HH Income$67,544
- Median Home Price$435,532
- Unemployment6.4%
- Bachelor's+34.1%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
Santa Rosa
129,239
Worcester
205,501
Worcester +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Santa Rosa
N/A
Worcester
N/A
Median Age
Santa Rosa
34.5
Worcester
34.1
Worcester +
Foreign Born
Santa Rosa
45.4%
Santa Rosa +
Worcester
23.2%
White
Santa Rosa
31.9%
Worcester
58.0%
Worcester +
Black
Santa Rosa
2.1%
Worcester
12.1%
Worcester +
Asian
Santa Rosa
47.6%
Santa Rosa +
Worcester
6.9%
Hispanic
Santa Rosa
16.1%
Worcester
24.9%
Worcester +
Spanish at Home
Santa Rosa
N/A
Worcester
N/A
| Metric | Santa Rosa, CA | Worcester, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 129,239 | 205,501 | Worcester + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 34.1 | Worcester + |
| Foreign Born | 45.4% | 23.2% | Santa Rosa + |
| White | 31.9% | 58.0% | Worcester + |
| Black | 2.1% | 12.1% | Worcester + |
| Asian | 47.6% | 6.9% | Santa Rosa + |
| Hispanic | 16.1% | 24.9% | Worcester + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Santa Rosa
$173,670
Santa Rosa +
Worcester
$67,544
Per Capita Income
Santa Rosa
$84,533
Santa Rosa +
Worcester
$35,825
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Santa Rosa
$77,230
Worcester
$85,405
Worcester +
Unemployment Rate
Santa Rosa
4.4%
Santa Rosa +
Worcester
6.4%
Poverty Rate
Santa Rosa
7.8%
Santa Rosa +
Worcester
19.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
Santa Rosa
65.3%
Santa Rosa +
Worcester
34.1%
| Metric | Santa Rosa, CA | Worcester, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $173,670 | $67,544 | Santa Rosa + |
| Per Capita Income | $84,533 | $35,825 | Santa Rosa + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $77,230 | $85,405 | Worcester + |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4% | 6.4% | Santa Rosa + |
| Poverty Rate | 7.8% | 19.8% | Santa Rosa + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 65.3% | 34.1% | Santa Rosa + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Santa Rosa
$720,443
Worcester
$435,532
Worcester +
Homeownership Rate
Santa Rosa
41.2%
Worcester
42.4%
Worcester +
| Metric | Santa Rosa, CA | Worcester, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $720,443 | $435,532 | Worcester + |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.2% | 42.4% | Worcester + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Santa Rosa
503
Worcester
326
Worcester +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Santa Rosa
2388
Worcester
1086
Worcester +
| Metric | Santa Rosa, CA | Worcester, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 503 | 326 | Worcester + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 2388 | 1086 | Worcester + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Santa Rosa
26.5%
Santa Rosa +
Worcester
35.3%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Santa Rosa
10.4%
Santa Rosa +
Worcester
11.4%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Santa Rosa
16.7%
Santa Rosa +
Worcester
19.9%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Santa Rosa
10.4%
Worcester
8.7%
Worcester +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Santa Rosa
15.8%
Santa Rosa +
Worcester
17.1%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Santa Rosa
11.3%
Santa Rosa +
Worcester
14.5%
| Metric | Santa Rosa, CA | Worcester, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 26.5% | 35.3% | Santa Rosa + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 10.4% | 11.4% | Santa Rosa + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 16.7% | 19.9% | Santa Rosa + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 10.4% | 8.7% | Worcester + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 15.8% | 17.1% | Santa Rosa + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 11.3% | 14.5% | Santa Rosa + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Santa Rosa
59.2°F
Worcester
47.9°F
Worcester +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Santa Rosa
32.2 in
Santa Rosa +
Worcester
48.1 in
| Metric | Santa Rosa, CA | Worcester, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 59.2°F | 47.9°F | Worcester + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 32.2 in | 48.1 in | Santa Rosa + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Santa Rosa
7.9 µg/m³
Worcester
7.2 µg/m³
Worcester +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Santa Rosa
75.0%
Worcester
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | Santa Rosa, CA | Worcester, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 7.9 µg/m³ | 7.2 µg/m³ | Worcester + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Santa Rosa
25.2 min
Santa Rosa +
Worcester
27.3 min
| Metric | Santa Rosa, CA | Worcester, MA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 25.2 min | 27.3 min | Santa Rosa + |
Which City is Right for You?
Santa Rosa leads in median household income at $173,670, while worcester offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $435,532. On public safety, Worcester is safer with a violent crime rate of 326 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa has a lower unemployment rate at 4.4%, and Worcester has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Santa Rosa scores better with a lower obesity rate of 26.5%.
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