BestCityFor

Best city for retirement? Santa Rosa, CA

D
Score
49/100
Rank #148 (top 200 cities)
Data: ACS 2023 (5-year)

Santa Rosa can still work for retirement if you’re leaning into median household income alongside age 65+ share. Overall, it’s not a top-ranked option in this set (#148 of 200), so fit matters. The main watch-out is typical rent (2br).

Methodology · Sources · CA rankings

Scope note (city proper)

This page scores the incorporated city limits (Census “Place”), not the metro area. Popular retirement destinations can look very different at the metro level.

Why Santa Rosa ranks here

  • Age 65+ share: 19% (36% 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 home value: $685,000 (97% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).

Watch-outs

  • Typical rent (2BR): $2,163/mo (50% higher 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
Typical home value
$685,000
National median: $347,900
Age 65+ share
19%
National median: 14%
Median age
41
National median: —
Median household income
$97,410
National median: $75,598
Broadband subscription
94%
National median: 91%

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 typical home value.
22/100
Retiree Signals
Age mix and income as broad service proxies.
43/100
Connectivity
Broadband access for everyday logistics.
94/100
Comfort
Climate comfort and commute friction.
89/100

Education (age 25+)

Share of adults by attainment (ACS).

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

Age mix

Share of residents age 65+ (ACS).

19%
Age 65+
81%
Under 65

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
Typical home value
National median $347,900
$685,000
Age 65+ share
National median 14%
19%
Median household income
National median $75,598
$97,410
Broadband subscription
National median 91%
94%
Commute 45+ min share
National median 11%
11%

Similar cities (by score)

#146 Fort Collins, CO
50/100
#147 Atlanta, GA
49/100
#149 Yonkers, NY
48/100
#150 Orlando, FL
48/100

FAQ

›What is Santa Rosa’s retirement score and rank?
Santa Rosa, CA scores D (49/100) and ranks #148 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 retirement patterns 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).
›How affordable is housing in Santa Rosa, CA?
Typical rent (2BR) is $2,163/mo (national median: $1,441/mo). Typical home value is $685,000 (national median: $347,900).
›What share of residents are 65+ in Santa Rosa, CA?
Age 65+ share is 19% (national median: 14%).
›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 (healthcare access, neighborhoods, taxes, climate preferences, support network).