Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Davie, FL
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Davie leads 13 of 19 categories
Davie
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,346 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
105,821
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Davie, FL
Pros
More college-educated — 40.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 65°F
Homes cost $33k less ($405,100 vs $438,100)
Households earn $3,109 more per year on average
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Longer commutes — 28.8 min average each way
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 90°F
Cons
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)
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.5%)
Pricier housing — median home is $438,100
Key Differences at a Glance
Davie
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Davie
Median Income
$3,109
$84,346 vs $81,237/yr
Davie
Median Home Value
$33k less
$405,100 vs $438,100
Davie
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.3% unemployment
Davie
Summer Heat
16.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 73.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Davie, 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 | $405,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $438,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,805⚠ High | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,346 ✓ Higher | $81,237 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.8 min⚠ High | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 140⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 21.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.2% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.6% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.6°F ✓ Warmer | 64.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.8" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,821 | 109,543 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.4% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Davie's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Davie is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Davie leads 13 of 19 categories. Davie wins 13 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 Davie to Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($405,100 vs $438,100 median home), income ($84,346 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Davie, FL and Santa Maria, CA are about 2,450 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.