Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anaheim, CA
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Anaheim leads 13 of 22 categories
Anaheim
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,538 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
347,111 ✓ Larger
Santa Maria
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Anaheim, CA
Pros
10% less violent crime than Santa Maria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 28.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,301 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 65°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $713,600
Violent crime (596.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,958/mo
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Homes cost $276k less ($438,100 vs $713,600)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Rent averages $190/mo less ($1,768 vs $1,958)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 87°F
Smaller class sizes — 21.2:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Anaheim
Cons
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 5.4%)
Median income trails Anaheim by $7,301/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Anaheim
Median Income
$7,301
$88,538 vs $81,237/yr
Anaheim
Violent Crime
10% lower
596.2 vs 660.6 per 100k
Anaheim
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.3% unemployment
Anaheim
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 73.3°F
Santa Maria
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 113.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Santa Maria
Median Home Value
$276k less
$438,100 vs $713,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anaheim, CA | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $713,600⚠ High | $438,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,958⚠ High | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,538 ✓ Higher | $81,237 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 21.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anaheim Elementary | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.0°F ✓ Warmer | 64.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 347,111 ✓ Larger | 109,543 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 51.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anaheim's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Santa Maria is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Anaheim leads 13 of 22 categories. Anaheim wins 13 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 Anaheim to Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($713,600 vs $438,100 median home), income ($88,538 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anaheim, CA and Santa Maria, CA are about 170 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.