Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Arvada leads 16 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066 ✓ Larger
Santa Maria
California
7
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.
Arvada, CO
Pros
57% less violent crime than Santa Maria
Households earn $24,777 more per year on average
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.8%)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Homes cost $115k less ($438,100 vs $553,000)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 47°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 88°F
Cons
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Arvada by $24,777/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Arvada
Median Income
$24,777
$106,014 vs $81,237/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
57% lower
285.6 vs 660.6 per 100k
Arvada
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Arvada
Summer Heat
14.9°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 73.3°F
Santa Maria
Median Home Value
$115k less
$438,100 vs $553,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $438,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $81,237 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 ✓ Larger | 109,543 |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Arvada is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 16 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 16 and Santa Maria wins 7. 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 Arvada to Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $438,100 median home), income ($106,014 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Santa Maria, CA are about 904 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.