Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chula Vista, CA
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Chula Vista leads 16 of 22 categories
Chula Vista
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,984 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
276,103 ✓ Larger
Santa Maria
California
6
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.
Chula Vista, CA
Pros
43% less violent crime than Santa Maria
Households earn $20,747 more per year on average
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $647,100
Higher rents — median is $2,035/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (8.8% vs 6.3%)
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Homes cost $209k less ($438,100 vs $647,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (6.3%)
Rent averages $267/mo less ($1,768 vs $2,035)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Chula Vista by $20,747/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Chula Vista
Key Differences at a Glance
Chula Vista
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Chula Vista
Median Income
$20,747
$101,984 vs $81,237/yr
Chula Vista
Violent Crime
43% lower
375.8 vs 660.6 per 100k
Santa Maria
Median Home Value
$209k less
$438,100 vs $647,100
Santa Maria
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
6.3% vs 8.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chula Vista, CA | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $647,100⚠ High | $438,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,035⚠ High | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,984 ✓ Higher | $81,237 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.8%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.1 min⚠ High | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 21.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chula Vista Elementary | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 64.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.6°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 13.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,103 ✓ Larger | 109,543 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chula Vista's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Chula Vista is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chula Vista leads 16 of 22 categories. Chula Vista wins 16 and Santa Maria wins 6. 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 Chula Vista to Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($647,100 vs $438,100 median home), income ($101,984 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chula Vista, CA and Santa Maria, CA are about 253 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.