Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Glendale
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512 ✓ Larger
Santa Maria
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Glendale, CA
Pros
57% less violent crime than Santa Maria
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 6.3%)
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Homes cost $554k less ($438,100 vs $992,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (6.3%)
Rent averages $234/mo less ($1,768 vs $2,002)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 86°F
Smaller class sizes — 21.2:1 student-teacher ratio
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)
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Violent Crime
57% lower
287.2 vs 660.6 per 100k
Glendale
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 85.8°F vs 73.3°F
Santa Maria
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 113.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Santa Maria
Median Home Value
$554k less
$438,100 vs $992,000
Santa Maria
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
6.3% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $438,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 | $81,237 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 21.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 64.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 ✓ Larger | 109,543 |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 51.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Santa Maria is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Glendale wins 11 and Santa Maria wins 11. 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 Glendale to Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $438,100 median home), income ($81,219 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Santa Maria, CA are about 135 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.