Moving from Oakland, CA to Santa Rosa, CA
Relocating between Oakland, CA and Santa Rosa, CA is a 63 mi drive — 1h 22m on open road, longer with stops. A move of this length usually shifts more than the commute: BEA RPP, Zillow ZHVI, and Census household stats can all diverge. This comparison assembles them from the current federal releases.
63 mi · 1h 22m by car · CA
Distance & route
| Route through | CA |
|---|---|
| Primary highways | US 101, I 580, I 880 |
| Major cities en route | Fremont, Hayward, Sunnyvale, San Mateo, Antioch |
Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Cost of living
| Oakland | Santa Rosa | U.S. avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items (RPP) | 115.613 | 107.784 | 100.0 |
| Rents | 172.585 | 154.777 | 100.0 |
| Goods | 108.465 | 105.168 | 100.0 |
| Services | 194.718 | 139.569 | 100.0 |
Moderate COL drop: 6.8% cheaper overall in Santa Rosa than Oakland on the 2024 BEA RPP.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level · MSA-level); 2024.
Housing prices
Housing stays roughly flat moving from Oakland to Santa Rosa — $716,248 vs $718,726 (2026-03).
YoY change: Oakland -8.5%, Santa Rosa -2.2%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.
Climate
| 1991–2020 normals | Oakland | Santa Rosa |
|---|---|---|
| Annual avg temperature | 60°F | 59°F |
| January avg low | 45°F | 38°F |
| July avg high | 72°F | 82°F |
| Annual snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| Annual precipitation | 22.6" | 31.5" |
No material annual-average temperature gap; seasonal extremes may still differ.
Effectively snow-free year in Santa Rosa — NOAA normals show near-zero annual snowfall.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: OAKLAND MUSEUM, CA US, SANTA ROSA, CA US).
Demographics
| ACS 5-year 2023 | Oakland | Santa Rosa |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 438,072 | 177,216 |
| Median household income | $97,369 | $97,410 |
| Median age | 37.6 | 40.5 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.5% | 21.3% |
| Avg household size | 2.53 | 2.6 |
No material income gap at the median: ACS 2023 puts both cities within 5%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.
Jobs & wages
Top occupations in Santa Rosa MSA
| Occupation | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 22,200 | $36,990 |
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 22,130 | $50,550 |
| Sales and Related Occupations | 19,610 | $42,770 |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | 15,180 | $45,180 |
| Management Occupations | 14,030 | $119,330 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Best time to move
Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.
To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.
Winter driving along this route
- Donner Pass (I-80) and Tejon Pass (I-5 Grapevine) see chain requirements and occasional closures December through March.
State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.
Packing & arrival checklist
- Wildfire season in California typically peaks July through October — register for county emergency alerts during unpack.
- Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
- Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
Frequently asked
How much do homes cost in Santa Rosa compared to Oakland?
Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $718,726 in Santa Rosa vs $716,248 in Oakland — a 0.3% higher figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.
When is the best time to move from Oakland to Santa Rosa?
Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 63 mi drive, weather on the route matters too — see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.
How far is Santa Rosa, CA from Oakland, CA?
The driving distance is 63 mi and the route typically takes 1h 22m via US 101 and I 580. The trip crosses 1 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Is Santa Rosa more expensive than Oakland?
Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Santa Rosa is 6.8% lower than Oakland (107.784 vs 115.613, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.
How does the job market in Santa Rosa compare to Oakland?
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $51,670 in the Santa Rosa MSA vs $72,050 in the Oakland MSA, on total employment of 206,310 and 2,422,210 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.
What is the climate difference between Oakland and Santa Rosa?
On NOAA 1991–2020 normals, annual average temperature is 59.0°F in Santa Rosa vs 59.6°F in Oakland (0.6°F colder). Annual snowfall: 0.0 in vs 0.0 in. Annual precipitation: 31.5 in vs 22.6 in.
Plan the move
Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Oakland.
City profiles: Oakland, CA · Santa Rosa, CA.