Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Greeley, CO
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Greeley leads 13 of 23 categories
Greeley
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,525
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
107,949
Santa Maria
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
109,543 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Greeley, CO
Pros
Rent averages $560/mo less ($1,208 vs $1,768)
Homes cost $92k less ($346,400 vs $438,100)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 26.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 18.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (670.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Santa Maria by $15,712/yr
Property crime (3019.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Households earn $15,712 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 44°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 92°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $438,100
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Greeley
Key Differences at a Glance
Greeley
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 96.0 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Greeley
Median Home Value
$92k less
$346,400 vs $438,100
Greeley
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.3% unemployment
Greeley
Summer Heat
18.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 73.3°F
Santa Maria
Median Income
$15,712
$81,237 vs $65,525/yr
Santa Maria
Violent Crime
2% lower
660.6 vs 670.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Greeley, CO | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.0 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $346,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $438,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,208 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,525 | $81,237 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.9 min | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 177⚠ High | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.8% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 83.6% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GreeleySchool District No. 6 in the county of Weld and Sta | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.1°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,949 | 109,543 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.6% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Greeley's cost of living index is 96.0 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Greeley is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Greeley leads 13 of 23 categories. Greeley 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 Greeley to Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($346,400 vs $438,100 median home), income ($65,525 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Greeley, CO and Santa Maria, CA are about 935 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.