Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Boca Raton leads 17 of 22 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
Santa Maria
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
109,543 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
74% less violent crime than Santa Maria
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $14,333 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 65°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Homes cost $159k less ($438,100 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $402/mo less ($1,768 vs $2,170)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 91°F
Cons
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Boca Raton by $14,333/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Boca Raton
Median Income
$14,333
$95,570 vs $81,237/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
74% lower
171.0 vs 660.6 per 100k
Boca Raton
Summer Heat
17.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 73.3°F
Santa Maria
Median Home Value
$159k less
$438,100 vs $597,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $438,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $81,237 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 64.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 109,543 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Boca Raton is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 17 of 22 categories. Boca Raton wins 17 and Santa Maria wins 5. 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 Boca Raton to Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $438,100 median home), income ($95,570 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Santa Maria, CA are about 2,452 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.