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Old Santa Rosa Post Office, Downtown Santa Rosa,2
California›Sonoma County
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Santa RosaCA

Trash day: look up yours
3 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Wulfnoth of English Wikipedia · CC BY 3.0
Photo of Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa, CA · Photo: Wulfnoth of English Wikipedia · CC BY 3.0 · Source ↗

Population
179,437
2025 Census estimate · +0.8% since 2020
Typical home
$708K
+0.5% in a year
Household income
$99K
median
Median age
41.2
years
Jobs based here
66,693
Balanced
TownGrade
C
#447 of 841 in CA

What is it like to live in Santa Rosa?

Santa Rosa is a city of 179,437, and it grades C overall, 447th of 841 graded towns in California. It is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 87% of U.S. towns. The trade-offs: FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 97% of U.S. communities, with earthquakes at the top, and the typical home is worth about $708K, 6.8 years of the Santa Rosa metro’s $105K median household income. 35% of working residents work locally in Santa Rosa, against 6.6% in California’s towns and 8% across U.S. towns. Its National Register listings include Luther Burbank House and Garden and William Hood House.

StrongestAWalkabilityA−OutdoorsWeakestD−Hazard riskD−Cost of living

What makes Santa Rosa stand out

Where Santa Rosa beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.

Luther Burbank House and Garden
History
Founded in 1833
16 places on the National Register
A history going back 193 years.
10.5of 20 on EPA’s indexCar-dependentWalkable
WalkabilityA
More walkable than 87% of U.S. towns
4.4% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
97Very high riskLowerHigher
Worth knowing · Natural hazardsD−
Earthquakes and inland flooding at the top
FEMA National Risk Index.
Luther Burbank House and Garden
Luther Burbank House and Garden · National Register of Historic Places
Santa Rosa’s story

193 years in pictures

Luther Burbank House and Garden is a National Historic Landmark, the National Register’s top tier. Its founding year, 1833, comes before those of 97% of the California towns we grade with a known year.

Census counts: 1,623 in 1860, 178,127 in 2020. The archive holds 11 old photos and papers going back to 1891 and 7 maps from 1916 on.

16 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

  • 1833Santa Rosa is founded
Explore the history →

How Santa Rosa grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Santa Rosa is from typical.

How grading works

Its grades run from A for walkability (better than 87% of comparable towns) to D− for hazard risk (better than 2%), so the C overall blends very different results.

Hazard riskearthquakes tops the listD−Open →Cost of livingD−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 10.5 of 20; 6.2% of households have no carAOpen →HealthProvidence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital 0.3 miles awayB+Open →SafetyCOpen →Jobs & income$99K median household incomeBOpen →SchoolsB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors11% conserved landA−Open →History48 notable people born hereBOpen →Civic life4.5 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market40 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 41.2–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Nearby attractions

Fort Ross and 37 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Santa Rosa. Close and well known come first.

All 187 attractions →
30 mi Ancient siteFort Rossin town MuseumCharles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center38 mi National MonumentMuir Woods National Monument757K visitors a year27 mi LakeLake Berryessa34 mi Theme parkSix Flags Discovery Kingdom36 mi MountainMount Tamalpais
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits

Fort Ross: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center: BrokenSphere, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Muir Woods National Monument: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Lake Berryessa: Unknown, Public domain · Six Flags Discovery Kingdom: Tinned Elk, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Mount Tamalpais: Originally uploaded by Nelso (Transferred by DimiTalen), CC BY-SA 3.0

Getting set up

Moving to Santa Rosa: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Santa Rosa, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →
PowerPG&E37.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Santa Rosa water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpBy addressTown’s hauler · day by addressTown site
SchoolsSanta Rosa High School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn California you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.gov
Who runs elections hereSonoma County Registrar of VotersSonoma County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2026
ZIP codes95403, 95401, 95404, 9540795403 19% · 95401 18% · 95404 18% · 95407 18%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Santa Rosa.

OutdoorsA−

Conserved land covers 11.3% of Santa Rosa

69 miles of trail in 74 parks and preserves. Santa Rosa’s trail density is 1.6 miles per square mile. The biggest place to walk is Spring Lake Park, 301 acres with 8.2 miles of trail.

#221for trails in CA
11.3%
conserved · 3,068 of 27,264 acres
69 mi
of trails · 1.6 per sq mi
Biggest places to walkTrailsAcres
1. Spring Lake Park8.2 mi301
2. Howarth Memorial Park5 mi138
3. A Place To Play3.2 mi75
Full pageSanta Rosa’s outdoors pageOpen the page
Trail map69 miles of trail, mappedPick a walk8.2 miles of trail · Spring Lake ParkConserved land11.3% conserved · 3,068 acres protectedQuestions“Where can I hike in Santa Rosa?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

SchoolsB−

Public schools in Santa Rosa fall behind 53% of California districts

Two of its 57 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

47%of CA districts it outscoresB−School Grade
SchoolLevelStudentsLetter
Cesar Chavez Language AcademyLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–8Grades K–8773–
Maria Carrillo HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12Grades 9–121,584–
Full pageSanta Rosa’s schools pageOpen the page
The districtsSanta Rosa HighVs. the neighborsBehind its 2 graded neighborsEvery school57 schools · Cesar Chavez Language AcademyQuestions“Are Santa Rosa’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D−

Earthquakes leads a very high hazard risk in Santa Rosa

Since 1981, 30 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Santa Rosa.

97risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
97Very high riskLowerHigher
EarthquakesInland flooding
30
paid flood claims since 1981
5
federal disasters paid out here
Full pageSanta Rosa’s hazards pageOpen the page
What it facesVery high riskFlood claims30 paid flood claims · Since 1981Past disasters5 federal disasters · Paid out in Santa RosaGet readyReady for earthquakes

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

HealthB+

Santa Rosa ranks healthier than 73% of the country’s towns

Santa Rosa beats the California average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 72% of adults had a checkup this year in Santa Rosa.

73%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
Santa RosaCalifornia townsU.S. towns
Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES)72%72%79%
Obesity (CDC PLACES)27%29%35%
High blood pressure (CDC PLACES)30%31%35%
Diabetes (CDC PLACES)10%12%12%
32 measures vs. California
2 better29 too close to call1 worse
What stands outSanta RosaCA
Fewer adults facing food insecurity15.4%17.9%
More adults screened for colon cancer63.3%57.5%
More adults who have had cancer8.2%6.4%
Providence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital
0.3 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
62nd
percentile among CA towns
Full pageSanta Rosa’s health reportOpen the page
Everyday habitsFewer adults who get no exerciseHospitals & doctors nearby0.3 miles to an ER · Providence Santa Rosa Memorial HospitalHow adults are doingFewer adults lacking emotional supportEvery CDC estimateBetter than CA on 2 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

SafetyC

Santa Rosa reports more crime per resident than 67% of U.S. towns

Reported crimes fell from 3,183 to 3,006 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.

Within California, it does better than 60% of towns.

33%of U.S. towns report more crimeCSafety Grade
Santa RosaCalifornia townsU.S. towns
Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025)2.9 per 1,000 residents2.91.6
Property crimes per 1,000 (2025)14 per 1,000 residents13.39.9

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Santa Rosa2.9
California4.4
U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Santa Rosa14
California18.2
U.S.15.5
33rd
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
60th
percentile among CA towns
517
violent crimes reported in 2025
2,489
property crimes reported in 2025
Full pageSanta Rosa’s safety reportOpen the page
Violent crime by type2.9 violent crimes per 1,000Crime over the yearsDown since 2023Vs. the neighborsAhead of its graded neighborQuestions“Is Santa Rosa, CA safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

Climate

Santa Rosa has mild winters and pleasant summers

Santa Rosa has mild winters and pleasant summers. The July high in Santa Rosa is 84°F.

84°summer high

Typical low → high °F

Winter38–59°
Spring43–70°
Summer51–83°
Fall46–75°
Dec 1
typical first frost
Feb 25
typical last frost
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
84°
typical summer high
Full pageSanta Rosa’s climate pageOpen the page
A year of weatherJuly highs 84°, January lows 38°Rain & snow32″ of rain a year · Snow is almost unheard ofHeating & coolingMostly a heating billThen and now+1.5° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Work & commuteJobs & income grade B

About one in three working residents works right in Santa Rosa

About one in 3 of Santa Rosa’s working residents works in town. Since 2013, Santa Rosa has added 3,211 jobs, to 66,693 in 2023. The top destinations are Petaluma (6%), Rohnert Park (5%) and San Francisco (4%).

35%work in town
Santa RosaCalifornia townsU.S. towns
Average trip to work23 minutes28 minutes25 minutes
Median household income$99,000$95,000$80,000

Where working residents work

In Santa Rosa35%
Petaluma6%
Rohnert Park5%
San Francisco4%
Windsor3%
8 mi
median commute distance
66,693
jobs based in Santa Rosa
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 87% of U.S. towns
Full pageSanta Rosa’s work & commute pageOpen the page
The jobs here66,693 jobs based here · BalancedWhere people work35% work in Santa RosaCommute times23 minutes · The average commuteHow far they goHalf commute less than 8 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Who lives here

An age mix much like California’s

No broad age group is more than 4 points off the California average. 20% of Santa Rosa residents are under 18. 35% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 37% across California.

41.2median age · CA 37.9
Santa RosaCalifornia townsU.S. towns
Under 1820%22%22%
Aged 65 or older19%16%18%
Median age41.2 years39 years40.5 years
Santa RosaCaliforniaUnited States

Ages · share of residents

Education · adults 25 and older

No diploma15%
High school19%
Some college21%
Associate’s10%
Bachelor’s22%
Graduate14%

Women and men · all residents

51.2% women, 48.8% men

About 95 men for every 100 women. Across California, 50.1% of residents are women. Median age: women 42.4, men 39.8.

Ages and education in Santa Rosa
Santa RosaCAU.S.
Under 109.8%11.4%11.6%
10 to 1710.2%10.5%10.3%
18 to 247.9%9.1%9.1%
25 to 3413.5%14.8%13.7%
35 to 4414.1%13.9%13.2%
45 to 5413.3%12.5%12.2%
55 to 6412.1%12.1%12.7%
65 to 7411.2%9.2%10.2%
75 and older7.8%6.5%7%
No diploma14.6%15.3%10.4%
High school19.1%20.5%26%
Some college21.4%19.3%19.1%
Associate’s9.8%7.9%8.8%
Bachelor’s21.5%22.7%21.6%
Graduate13.6%14.4%14.1%
Full pageSanta Rosa by the numbersOpen the page
Ages41.2 median age · 19% are 65 or olderSchooling35% have a four-year degreeHomes57% own their home · HomeownersIncome$99K a year · Median household income

U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates

HousingCost of living grade D−

Santa Rosa earns a D− for cost of living

The typical Santa Rosa home is worth about $708,000, up 0.5% in a year, 7% below the California typical home.

$708KZillow home value
Santa RosaCalifornia townsU.S. towns
Median rent$2,152 a month$1,895 a month$1,185 a month
Households that own their home57%64%73%
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent55%55%48%

Typical home value

Santa Rosa$708K
California$762K
Market temperature
BalancedA seller's marketBuyer’sSeller’s
40
days on market
100.2%
sale-to-list price
+0.5%
value change, 1 year
136
homes sold in May
Full pageSanta Rosa’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page
Prices over the yearsUp 0.5% in a yearYears of income to buyA typical home costs 7.1 years of incomeRents$2,152 a month · Median rentVs. the neighborsAhead of 1 of its 2 graded neighbors

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Santa Rosa

20pages on Santa Rosa
The big questions
SchoolsB−Behind 53% of CA districts · 57 schoolsSafetyC2.9 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthB+Better than CA on 2 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingD−$708K typical home · up 0.5% in a yearWork & commuteB$99K median household income · 66,693 jobs hereNatural hazardsD−FEMA risk higher than 97% of U.S. communities · earthquakes
Out and about
OutdoorsA−69 mi of trails · 11% conserved landPlacesAttractions187 nearby · Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center under 1 miLibraryB+Central Santa Rosa LibraryCollegesSanta Rosa Junior College, in town
The story
HistoryBFounded 1833 · 16 on the National RegisterFamous people48 born in Santa RosaTown Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 154 residentsClimate84° summer highs
Day to day
News5 recent stories about Santa RosaWeatherHandbookZIP code 95401, 95402, 95403Town SquareNeighbors
After high school

Colleges nearby

2 within 15 miles of the center of Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa Junior CollegeCommunity college · Public · Santa RosaIn town$1,318 in-state tuitionSonoma State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Rohnert Park7.5 mi$8,624 in-state tuition

About 6 of every 100 Santa Rosa residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

College town

Santa Rosa Junior College calls Santa Rosa home

Santa Rosa Junior College11,829 students on campus
Admission
Open
Net price
$6,331
Graduate
37%
College Scorecard · IPEDS

Landmarks

16 places in Santa Rosa on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →
Luther Burbank House and GardenNational Historic Landmark
McDonald MansionBuilt 1877
Hotel La Rose
Wasserman HouseBuilt 1915

Famous people from Santa Rosa

48 notable people were born in Santa Rosa.

See all 48 →
Rebecca De MornayAmerican actress · born 1959
Julie LondonAmerican actress and singer · 1926–2000
Jussie SmollettAmerican actor · born 1982
Chad ChanningAmerican musician · born 1967
Robert RipleyAmerican cartoonist · 1890–1949
Jade PugetAmerican musician · born 1973

About Santa Rosa

City in California, United States

Official town website ↗

Santa Rosa (Spanish for "Saint Rose") is a city in and the county seat of Sonoma County, United States, in the North Bay region of the Bay Area in California. Its population as of the 2020 census was 178,127. It is the largest city in California's Wine Country and Redwood Coast. It is the fifth most populous city in the Bay Area after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont; and the 27th-most populous city in California.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established
1868
Area
42 sq mi
Elevation
164 ft
ZIP code
95401, 95402, 95403
Area code
707

Santa Rosa’s neighbors

3 towns share a border with Santa Rosa.

Explore the map →
SebastopolFultonLarkfield-WikiupSebastopolFultonLarkfield-WikiupSanta Rosa
Sebastopol
SW · 1% of Santa Rosa workers commute here
Visit
Fulton
NW
Visit
Larkfield-Wikiup
NW · 1% of Santa Rosa workers commute here
Visit
How the neighbors grade
TownCA rankOverallCostSafetySchoolsHealth
Santa Rosa#447CD−CB−B+
Sebastopol#321C+D−CBA
Fulton——————
Larkfield-Wikiup#353CD−—B−B+

Larkfield-Wikiup reports no FBI crime data of its own. Fulton isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Santa Rosa with a neighbor →

Questions about Santa Rosa

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Santa Rosa, CA a good place to live?

Santa Rosa grades C overall, better than 25% of U.S. towns and #447 of 841 in California. It grades B+ for health, C for safety and B− for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a D−.

Is Santa Rosa, CA safe?

Within California, it does better than 60% of towns.

Is Santa Rosa, CA expensive?

Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D−.

What is Santa Rosa, CA known for?

48 notable people were born here, including Rebecca De Mornay and Julie London.