Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Chicago leads 13 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Santa Maria
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237 ✓ Higher
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.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $134k less ($304,500 vs $438,100)
Rent averages $454/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,768)
18% less violent crime than Santa Maria
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Santa Maria by $9,564/yr
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 6.3%)
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (6.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 32°F
Households earn $9,564 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 81°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,100
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
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)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Violent Crime
18% lower
539.8 vs 660.6 per 100k
Chicago
Median Home Value
$134k less
$304,500 vs $438,100
Chicago
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 81.0°F vs 73.3°F
Santa Maria
Median Income
$9,564
$81,237 vs $71,673/yr
Santa Maria
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
6.3% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $438,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $81,237 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 109,543 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 51.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chicago leads 13 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 13 and Santa Maria wins 10. 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 Chicago to Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $438,100 median home), income ($71,673 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Santa Maria, CA are about 1,825 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.