16 Pros and Cons of Living in Roseville, CA

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The city of Roseville, nestled in the Sacramento metropolitan area, is a bastion of families living in Northern California.

Originally a railroad town, this city with a bit of everything has steadily grown through the years. 

More recently, Roseville has emerged as a hub for technologically-based companies, with a number of high-profile businesses setting up offices in the area.

Let’s take a look at all that Roseville has to offer, both good and bad. 

Pros of Living in Roseville

1. Cost of Living

One of the biggest selling points about living in Roseville is its remarkably affordable cost of living.

Cost of living indexes consider factors such as the cost of groceries and household goods, childcare, transportation, utilities, healthcare, home costs, and other essential services and commodities.

The overall cost of living for the state of California is known to be high, with New York and Hawaii being the only other states ranked higher.

That being said, Roseville stands out as a lower-cost alternative to many other nearby cities.

For example, the cost of living is approximately 50% higher in San Jose. 

2. Housing Prices

As mentioned above, housing costs are factored into the overall cost of living for an area.

For Roseville, the housing market is quite favorable for buyers and sellers.

Housing prices, overall, are more affordable in Roseville, compared to the rest of California.

This offers many buyers a reduced rate than what they were expecting when buying in the Golden State. 

Sellers are also able to see more properties turned over, while still offering beautiful homes, which range in age and style.

Roseville offers a suburban lifestyle of neighborhoods and residential areas throughout the city.

If you’re looking to find a unique home in California, Roseville is a great place to look. 

3. Retail Shopping

Another factor that makes Roseville appealing is the variety of shopping options.

If you’re giddy about a day at the mall or retail shops, Roseville is a perfect place for you.

Whether looking to explore the many malls Roseville offers, or are searching for a high-end boutique shopping experience, this oasis of retail sales has you covered. 

The shopping is not just confined to clothes, as Roseville has a good deal of furniture, home goods, bath and linen, and decorative artistic shops and stores, too. 

4. The Job Market 

Roseville has a steady and profitable job market for the right industries.

As just mentioned, Roseville is a bastion of retail jobs, of all levels.

There are also a number of service industry positions, which is an ever-growing market. 

Roseville is also a major player in the tech, corporate business, and railroad sectors.

Since the city has its origins firmly entrenched in the railroad business, it seems only right for Union Pacific to be a local job contributor.

Additionally, tech giant Hewlett-Packard and management consortium Kaiser both have offices in Roseville. 

5. Family Appeal

Roseville loves its status as a family-friendly suburban enclave.

Since the 1960s, Roseville has seen steady growth in its residential and commercial spaces.

The growth during this time was carefully encouraged and managed to avoid overcrowding or urban sprawl. 

As a result, the area is well-matched in its ratio of resources to residents.

In other words, there are enough houses, malls, restaurants, utilities, public services, grocery stores, and green spaces for everyone to live comfortably.

Couples and individuals have been raising families in this area for decades, fostering a strong sense of community along the way. 

6. Numerous School Options

With large numbers of families comes the need for equivalently staffed schools.

Fortunately, Roseville has plenty of schooling choices, from public to private. 

Roseville’s top high school options all achieve graduation rates in the middle to upper 90 percent range and the unified testing numbers see Roseville city students all scoring in the top 20% or better for literacy and math.  

7. Great Location

With humble beginnings as a railway junction, Roseville has always been at the center of a number of important areas in California.

Its location in the north-central area of the state puts it hours from San Francisco to the west and Reno to the east. 

Roseville is also surrounded to the north by a plethora of national forests to explore.

If you’re looking for the nearest big city and all the amenities it offers, Sacramento is less than 30 minutes away. 

8. Low Crime

Another of Roseville’s many perks is its lower crime rates.

This relatively safe city is well below the national and state crime rate statistics.

For comparison, Roseville’s crime rate indexes, excluding robbery, are 50% below the national average.

Robbery is only 30% lower for Roseville, versus the national average.

Many of the city’s issues with a crime are located near the I80 corridor, which runs through the center of town.

Areas surrounding the city to the north and east report lower rates of crime, overall.

The highest instances of crime in Roseville tend to involve property damage or theft. 

Cons of Living in Roseville

1. Lots of Traffic

Roseville’s city structure and the continued influx of new residents have caused some strains on the traffic system, particularly during rush hour.

Slowed traffic and crowded roadways are daily occurrences that most residents have come to expect, although begrudgingly. 

There is also a healthy public transportation system in Roseville, which helps to alleviate some traffic woes.

Buses and a light railway system both run throughout the city.

If you need to drive, plan on heading out before or after rush hour traffic, if at all possible. 

2. Hot Summer Temperatures

Situated in the middle of the Sacramento Valley, Roseville is prone to warmer temperatures in the summer months.

For many, this time of year may become uncomfortable for outside activities. 

The good news is that Roseville has lots of malls and stores for indoor shopping, which keeps you out of the heat.

The climate in California is often low in humidity, too, so high temperatures can still be comfortable to some.

If all else fails, there are nearby mountain ranges for getting a taste of alpine air. 

3. Limited Nightlife

Although Roseville offers lots in the way of family living and retail therapy, there aren’t as many options for the club and bar scene.

Roseville tends to be a bit slower-paced than other parts of California.  

If nightlife is what you’re looking for, Sacramento does offer a number of options, while remaining close to Roseville.

If you’re up for a road trip and more nightlife options, San Francisco is a bit further up the highway.

4. California Costs

No matter where in California you are, the costs are often going to be higher than in most other states.

California also offers higher wages to many of its residents.

These two factors often cause inflation throughout the state. 

Roseville is more affordable on a number of fronts, including housing and rent, but can still be subject to the costs associated with the state. 

5. Crowded in Some Areas

When an area is beautiful and affordable, people will want to live there.

Unfortunately for Roseville, it’s got both attributes.

Accordingly, the population of Roseville and the surrounding areas is steadily increasing.

This continued influx of new residents is a direct cause of traffic problems and will continue to put a strain on local resources.

But Roseville is planning ahead for continued growth by adding more roads and lanes, plus housing and new job opportunities. 

6. Weather and Natural Disasters

Other than it being hot in the summer, there is also the ever-present possibility of an earthquake in Roseville.

Although many of the epicenters are closer to the coast, residents will feel tremors from time to time. 

There are also wildfires to contend with.

These blazes can wipe a city off the map if the wrong conditions are present.

Fire management is a priority for many California cities. 

7. Some Underperforming Schools

While there are a number of schools in the area of Roseville, not all of them are doing as well as they could.

Whether it be time lost to the pandemic or a lack of school funding, there are more students showing stagnant or declining test scores. 

8. Long-Term Economic Growth

Roseville is on track for continued growth, both in the residential and commercial markets.

The key to Roseville’s success is to attract and retain additional businesses to offer jobs, economic development, and community buy-ins. 

Unfortunately, Roseville’s location is more attractive to families than to corporations.

Community development will need to address future policies for keeping workers in the city limits. 

Pros and Cons of Living in Roseville, CA – Summary Table