Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Anchorage leads 15 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674 ✓ Larger
Santa Maria
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
109,543
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Rent averages $363/mo less ($1,405 vs $1,768)
Homes cost $74k less ($363,800 vs $438,100)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $14,494 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.2%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Cons
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2765.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
35% less violent crime than Anchorage
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 21°F
Cons
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $438,100
Median income trails Anchorage by $14,494/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Anchorage
Median Income
$14,494
$95,731 vs $81,237/yr
Anchorage
Median Home Value
$74k less
$363,800 vs $438,100
Anchorage
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.3% unemployment
Santa Maria
Violent Crime
35% lower
660.6 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Santa Maria
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 73.3°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $438,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $81,237 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 73.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 ✓ Larger | 109,543 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Anchorage is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Anchorage leads 15 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 15 and Santa Maria wins 8. 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 Anchorage to Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $438,100 median home), income ($95,731 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Santa Maria, CA are about 2,212 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.