.jpg)
Is Santa Maria, CA a Good Place to Live?
Santa Maria is a mid-sized city of 109,543 in California, with a median household income of $81,237 and a 6.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 114 (US average = 100), which is 14% above the national average.
Strengths: Santa Maria stands out for short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Santa Maria is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Santa Maria city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 113.5Santa Maria's overall cost of living index is 113.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Santa Maria costs roughly 14% more than the average American city.
| Metric | Santa Maria, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $438,100 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.2% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $81,237 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Higher than AverageSanta Maria's violent crime rate is 660.6 per 100,000 residents — 74% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Santa Maria is served primarily by Santa Maria-Bonita. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21.2:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Santa Maria, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Santa Maria-Bonita | — |
| Elementary Schools | 17 | — |
| Middle Schools | 4 | — |
| High Schools | N/A | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 21.2:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.5% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 63.3% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Santa Maria sees average highs of 64.7°F in January and 73.3°F in July, with 13.3 inches of annual precipitation .
| Metric | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 64.7°F |
| Average High — July | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | Trace / None |
Demographics
| Metric | Santa Maria, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 109,543 | — |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 22.1 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 50.1% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 1.3% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 39.4% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 4.7% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 31.0% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 10.7% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Santa Maria
Santa Maria, CA is covered by 2 ZIP codes: