Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Carrollton leads 18 of 23 categories
Carrollton
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,380 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
79% less violent crime than Santa Maria
Homes cost $111k less ($327,300 vs $438,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 42.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $14,143 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,100
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Carrollton by $14,143/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carrollton
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Carrollton
Median Income
$14,143
$95,380 vs $81,237/yr
Carrollton
Violent Crime
79% lower
137.1 vs 660.6 per 100k
Carrollton
Median Home Value
$111k less
$327,300 vs $438,100
Carrollton
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.3% unemployment
Carrollton
Summer Heat
21.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 73.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, TX | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $438,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 ✓ Higher | $81,237 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 ✓ Larger | 109,543 |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Carrollton is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carrollton leads 18 of 23 categories. Carrollton wins 18 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 Carrollton to Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $438,100 median home), income ($95,380 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and Santa Maria, CA are about 1,353 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.