Santa Rosa is not only a wonderful place for growing grapes but also for growing families looking to get some distance from San Francisco. 12 months of mild weather provides the perfect climate for enjoying the amazing parks and trails and excellent public schools make the area popular with families. 

Wine country doesn’t come without some drawbacks. Anything within a ninety-minute drive of San Francisco is going to cost a pretty penny for housing. Being surrounded by beautiful vineyards and state parks makes this issue even worse. Wine country has also been hit hard by recent wildfires, which makes it a beacon for climate risk, but that hasn't suppressed pricing any. 



In Vino Veritas

LookyLOO Review of Santa Rosa?

Located in the heart of wine country USA, Santa Rosa locals enjoy a life centered around that classy commodity and the weather that goes along with it. Nights out for the upper crust are usually spent enjoying a nice glass of wine and a locally sourced gourmet meal. Santa Rosa is also only an hour or so from San Francisco and Oakland for those looking for some bigger city vibes, and only 45 minutes from the beaches if you favor a more traditional Cali experience. Raising kids here, while expensive, is pretty heavenly. Lots of sports they can play year-round, great public schools, and big cities not too far if you want them to get some culture. 

If you're interested in seeing all that happens here check out the [calendar of events](https://www.visitsantarosa.com/special-and-signature-events). 

We highly recommend visiting Santa Rosa and staying in the community in a [VRBO](https://vrbo.com/affiliate/p4JS4ZC) rather than a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our [partnership with Expedia](expedia.com/affiliate/9NZ8LBQ) as well.

Lifestyle 

If you're looking to break into the wine industry Santa Rosa should be at the top of your list, tech and healthcare are also high volume options. Commuting to San Francisco happens but that drive is rough. We'd highly recommend you only consider that if you're working from home most/all days.

Worklife 

If you’re looking to retire or are a Bay Area family looking for better schools and an escape from the challenges or raising kiddos in SF or Oakland, Santa Rosa is an excellent option. At least for those who've done the math. 


Escape From Alcatraz

Why You Should Move Here Now?

**Xanitos**
6mo ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

As a Native since I was 2 years old, I know my bias hehe. But I also love to study urban planning. Santa Rosa is a really amazing place at times. Our city council and planning commission lost their minds back in the 70's with some truly baffling choices to the City planning so some areas, like the downtown, are ok, but lack many benefits of a great walkable area, but thankfully it feels like we are on the mend from that passed time and getting better.

We are developing a lot of the city in great ways now and have what I think is a pretty great community that is actively working to make things better. We have so many fantastic local restaurants in the area to explore with a cornucopia of genres. We have one of the best grocery stores you could ever ask for, Oliver's Market and other great family owned business's too. Our arts and entertainment isn't too shabby but the greater Bay Area tends to be where you roam for premium events.

Santa Rosa has a pretty darn large population but it it has an illusion that makes it feel smaller than it is due to its sprawl. To me its a great balance of not feeling like a disconnected large city but we also have many pleasant amenities you could ask for in the local surrounding areas. Ocean, Rivers, Lakes, Forests, agriculture, other great towns and hubs are less than an hour drive away, and that includes SF!

For more reviews of what living in Santa Rosa is like from locals check out: [**The Reviews**](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/santa-rosa/reviews)

Grapes of Wrath

Reviews of Santa Rosa from Locals

If you work in Sonoma, Napa or very far north in Marin county but you want a bit of a lifestyle then look at Downtown Santa Rosa. It’s on the smaller side but it has a pretty dense collection of bars, restaurants, cafes, bookstores, gyms and boutique shopping to keep you busy on weekends (or weeknights). The streets are beautiful and everything is walkable so check out the loft apartment buildings or townhomes and prepare for a chill but fun lifestyle. 
- Downtown


Young Professionals/DINKs/SINKs

Downtown

The Fountaingrove neighborhood was burned to the ground in the fire of 2017. Since then if has recovered quite a bit and not only is one of the best neighborhoods for the LGBTQ+ community but it even has an LGBTQ+ retirement community!  
- Fountaingrove


LGBTQ+

Fountaingrove

Most of Santa Rosa is family-friendly but one of the particularly perfect areas is the Memorial Hospital neighborhood. Not shockingly, given the name, it is near the hospital. It’s a bigger neighborhood with a mix of families and retirees who enjoy both the excellent housing options and a downtown area make it a perfect mix of suburban and commercial. Local schools are excellent and crime rates are extremely low. 
- Memorial Hospital
- Roseland


Families

Memorial Hospital

The premier neighborhood for retirees is Oakmont Village. It’s a 55+ un-gated community with all its own amenities including; ganks, salons, cleaners, a deli-market, fire station, medical offices and plenty of restaurants and cafes. Oakmont Golf Club is also in the neighborhood. This includes two 18-hole courses, one a par 72 and the other a par 63 executive-level course. It also sits right next to Annadel State Park, two other state parks, and plenty of world-class wineries so you will never run out of healthy and enjoyable things to do. 
- Oakmont Village
- Bennet Valley
- Memorial Hospital


Retirees

Oakmont Village

Santa Rosa

**Xanitos**
6mo ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

As a Native since I was 2 years old, I know my bias hehe. But I also love to study urban planning. Santa Rosa is a really amazing place at times. Our city council and planning commission lost their minds back in the 70's with some truly baffling choices to the City planning so some areas, like the downtown, are ok, but lack many benefits of a great walkable area, but thankfully it feels like we are on the mend from that passed time and getting better.

We are developing a lot of the city in great ways now and have what I think is a pretty great community that is actively working to make things better. We have so many fantastic local restaurants in the area to explore with a cornucopia of genres. We have one of the best grocery stores you could ever ask for, Oliver's Market and other great family owned business's too. Our arts and entertainment isn't too shabby but the greater Bay Area tends to be where you roam for premium events.

Santa Rosa has a pretty darn large population but it it has an illusion that makes it feel smaller than it is due to its sprawl. To me its a great balance of not feeling like a disconnected large city but we also have many pleasant amenities you could ask for in the local surrounding areas. Ocean, Rivers, Lakes, Forests, agriculture, other great towns and hubs are less than an hour drive away, and that includes SF!

**BulldogMama13**
6mo ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

North West Santa Rosa
With a young family, I think sonoma county would absolutely be a good landing spot, even including some areas of Santa Rosa. I encourage you to broaden your search to surrounding towns including Cloverdale, windsor (especially windsor), and Rohnert park. It’s where many of the young families live because starter homes are ever so slightly more affordable there. Rincon valley is a lovely area of Santa Rosa that doesn’t feel like a city with a great school district, but it’s also expensive.

People like to bitch and moan about how expensive it is here and how you could have a mansion in Sacramento for an apartment price here. BUT: the weather is pretty great most of the year, we’re 45 min from the beach, we are super close to gorgeous river spots and lake sonoma, we have more county/state parks per capita than anywhere else I’ve been, we have so many options for really good food, at every price point and every type of cuisine, we’re 45 min from the big racetrack if you’re into motorsports, and petaluma has a little dirt track too. wine tasting galore. I don’t even consider myself into wine but I enjoy a few wine events a year usually with food and good live music

we have an airport with lots of direct cheap flights to Vegas, LA, Yellowstone and more, we have a train that is nice and clean and can take you all the way to the larkspur ferry to go to SF, we’ve got a bunch of hospitals if you need proximity to that kind of thing

I mean really, people, how many places can you live where you have THAT MANY options for things to do as a little daytrip with minimal planning? And of those places, how many aren’t major urban areas? The appeal of sonoma county for me is that it feels rural but has every amenity you could wish for.

**s1cWid1T**
6mo ago
🦉🦉🦉

Santa Rosa is an interesting place to live. There is plenty of culture and plenty of things to do. Downtown could be better but there are plenty of smaller cute downtown areas to visit minutes away as well so you are not lacking there.

Unless you are in the medical field good job opportunities are limited, the best bet in my opinion otherwise is a to be in union construction as along the industry around here is hospitality oriented so it tends to be lower pay.

**ProductUseful3887**
6mo ago
🦉🦉🦉

I’m a fan. Sonoma county native of almost 40 years, minus a decade in Los Angeles and Orange County. I’ve lived in Santa Rosa for the last 5 years and am a fan. It’s a big enough town that it still feels quaint without feeling like a concrete jungle. The coast is about an hours drive. Plenty of great spots to hike, fish, ride your bike, and picnic. Also tons of great restaurants in every direction, awesome breweries, wineries and dispensaries (if you partake). And in comparison to other parts of the state, it’s still somewhat affordable.

Santa Rosa, California

Saint Rose

Looklyloo Score: 85