BestCityFor

Best city for remote work? Santa Rosa, CA

D
Score
42/100
Rank #161 (top 200 cities)
Data: ACS 2023 (5-year)

Santa Rosa is more of a niche fit for remote work—best if you prioritize broadband subscription, plus median household income. Overall, it’s better for a specific set of priorities (#161 of 200). One thing to keep in mind is work-from-home share.

Methodology · Sources · CA rankings

Scope note (city proper)

This page scores the incorporated city limits (Census “Place”), not the metro area. That’s why some cities can look very different vs their surrounding region.

Why Santa Rosa ranks here

  • Broadband subscription: 94% (3% higher than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Median household income: $97,410 (29% higher than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Typical rent (2BR): $2,163/mo (50% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).

Watch-outs

  • Work-from-home share: 10% (15% lower than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Commute 45+ min share: 11% (3% lower than the national median; better for this metric).

City snapshot

Basic demographics from ACS 2023 (city proper).

Population
177,216
Estimated total population (ACS).
Male vs female
Male 49%Female 51%

Key metrics

Values shown are from ACS 2023. National medians are computed across the ranked city set.

Typical rent (2BR)
$2,163/mo
National median: $1,441/mo
Work-from-home share
10%
National median: 12%
Broadband subscription
94%
National median: 91%
Median household income
$97,410
National median: $75,598
Bachelor’s+ rate
35%
National median: 35%
Commute 45+ min share
11%
National median: 11%

Score breakdown (by category)

Category scores are 0–100 and summarize groups of metrics used in the final score.

City
National median (dataset)
Affordability
Typical 2BR rent and housing pressure.
15/100
Connectivity
Broadband availability as a practical remote-work proxy.
94/100
Workforce
Remote-work adoption and human-capital signals.
38/100
Comfort
Commute friction and climate comfort.
89/100

Education (age 25+)

Share of adults by attainment (ACS).

14%
Less than HS
51%
HS / Some college
21%
Bachelor’s
13%
Advanced

Work style

WFH vs not WFH (ACS).

10%
Work from home
90%
Not WFH

Internet access

Household broadband subscription (ACS).

94%
Broadband
6%
No broadband

Map

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Scorecard breakdown

Bars are rescaled to 0–100 for readability (percentage metrics use their actual percent).

City
National median (dataset)
Typical rent (2BR)
National median $1,441/mo
$2,163/mo
Broadband subscription
National median 91%
94%
Work-from-home share
National median 12%
10%
Median household income
National median $75,598
$97,410
Bachelor’s+ rate
National median 35%
35%
Commute 45+ min share
National median 11%
11%

Similar cities (by score)

#159 Mobile, AL
42/100
#160 Cleveland, OH
42/100
#162 Escondido, CA
42/100
#163 Modesto, CA
42/100

FAQ

›What is Santa Rosa’s remote work score and rank?
Santa Rosa, CA scores D (42/100) and ranks #161 out of the top 200 US cities in this dataset.
›Is this based on Santa Rosa city proper or the metro area?
City proper (incorporated place). This uses Census ‘Place’ boundaries, not the metro area. Metro-level rankings can differ a lot from the city itself.
›What is the population of Santa Rosa, CA?
Population is about 177,216 (ACS 2023, city proper).
›What is the male vs female split in Santa Rosa, CA?
About 49% male and 51% female (ACS 2023).
›What is a typical monthly rent in Santa Rosa, CA?
Typical rent (2BR) is $2,163/mo (national median: $1,441/mo).
›What share of workers work from home in Santa Rosa, CA?
Work-from-home share is 10% (national median: 12%).
›How common is broadband internet in Santa Rosa, CA?
Broadband subscription is 94% of households (national median: 91%).
›What does the education mix look like in Santa Rosa, CA?
Among adults 25+, the shares are roughly: less than HS 14%, HS/some college 51%, bachelor’s 21%, advanced 13%.
›Where does this data come from for Santa Rosa, CA?
Metrics are from Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates (city proper / incorporated place), with optional NOAA climate normals when available.

Note: Scores are informational and depend on data coverage and methodology. Always validate against your personal constraints (job, neighborhood, commute, safety, schools, healthcare).