Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clovis, CA
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Clovis leads 16 of 21 categories
Clovis
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
120,607 ✓ 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.
Clovis, CA
Pros
63% less violent crime than Santa Maria
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.6 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $17,317 more per year on average
Rent averages $286/mo less ($1,482 vs $1,768)
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 98°F
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 55°F
Cons
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Clovis by $17,317/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clovis
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 107.8 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Clovis
Median Income
$17,317
$98,554 vs $81,237/yr
Clovis
Violent Crime
63% lower
244.6 vs 660.6 per 100k
Clovis
Median Home Value
$17k less
$420,700 vs $438,100
Clovis
Summer Heat
24.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 73.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clovis, CA | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $420,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $438,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,482⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,554 ✓ Higher | $81,237 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | 21.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.3% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clovis Unified | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.6" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,607 ✓ Larger | 109,543 |
| Median Age | 34.8 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.5% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clovis's cost of living index is 107.8 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Clovis is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Clovis leads 16 of 21 categories. Clovis wins 16 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 Clovis to Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($420,700 vs $438,100 median home), income ($98,554 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clovis, CA and Santa Maria, CA are about 138 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.