Moving from Richmond, CA to Santa Rosa, CA
It is a short 49 mi hop from Richmond, CA to Santa Rosa, CA — roughly 1h 4m behind the wheel. Even at local distance, household costs and housing values can diverge more than the mileage suggests. Below you will find a direct comparison on BEA cost-of-living, Zillow home values, Census demographics, BLS wages, and NOAA climate.
49 mi · 1h 4m by car · CA
Distance & route
| Route through | CA |
|---|---|
| Primary highways | US 101, I 580 |
| Major cities en route | San Mateo, Berkeley, Oakland, Hayward, Vallejo |
Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Cost of living
| Richmond | 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 Richmond on the 2024 BEA RPP.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level · MSA-level); 2024.
Housing prices
Housing comes in 6.8% above Richmond — $606,427 → $718,726 on the latest ZHVI.
YoY change: Richmond -5.4%, Santa Rosa -2.2%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.
Climate
| 1991–2020 normals | Richmond | Santa Rosa |
|---|---|---|
| Annual avg temperature | 59°F | 59°F |
| January avg low | 44°F | 38°F |
| July avg high | 71°F | 82°F |
| Annual snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| Annual precipitation | 24.4" | 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: RICHMOND, CA US, SANTA ROSA, CA US).
Demographics
| ACS 5-year 2023 | Richmond | Santa Rosa |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 115,396 | 177,216 |
| Median household income | $90,038 | $97,410 |
| Median age | 37.6 | 40.5 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.2% | 21.3% |
| Avg household size | 2.85 | 2.6 |
Households in Santa Rosa earn about 6.8% more at the median — ACS 5-year 2023.
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 Richmond?
Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $718,726 in Santa Rosa vs $606,427 in Richmond — a 18.5% higher figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.
How does the job market in Santa Rosa compare to Richmond?
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $51,670 in the Santa Rosa MSA vs $72,050 in the Richmond 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.
Is Santa Rosa more expensive than Richmond?
Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Santa Rosa is 6.8% lower than Richmond (107.784 vs 115.613, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.
When is the best time to move from Richmond 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 49 mi drive, weather on the route matters too — see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.
What is the climate difference between Richmond and Santa Rosa?
On NOAA 1991–2020 normals, annual average temperature is 59.0°F in Santa Rosa vs 58.8°F in Richmond (0.2°F warmer). Annual snowfall: 0.0 in vs 0.0 in. Annual precipitation: 31.5 in vs 24.4 in.
How far is Santa Rosa, CA from Richmond, CA?
The driving distance is 49 mi and the route typically takes 1h 4m via US 101 and I 580. The trip crosses 1 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.
How does household income compare in Richmond vs Santa Rosa?
Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $97,410 in Santa Rosa vs $90,038 in Richmond — a 8.2% higher figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.
Plan the move
Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Richmond.
City profiles: Richmond, CA · Santa Rosa, CA.