Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Alexandria leads 14 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
Santa Maria
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
109,543
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
67% less violent crime than Santa Maria
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $31,942 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Longer commutes — 30.1 min average each way
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Homes cost $218k less ($438,100 vs $655,700)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Rent averages $215/mo less ($1,768 vs $1,983)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 45°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $31,942/yr
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Alexandria
Median Income
$31,942
$113,179 vs $81,237/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
67% lower
219.1 vs 660.6 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.3% unemployment
Alexandria
Summer Heat
16.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 73.3°F
Santa Maria
Median Home Value
$218k less
$438,100 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $438,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $81,237 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 109,543 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 51.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Alexandria is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 14 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 14 and Santa Maria wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alexandria to Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $438,100 median home), income ($113,179 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Santa Maria, CA are about 2,389 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.