Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hemet, CA
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Hemet leads 15 of 22 categories
Hemet
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,901
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,651
Santa Maria
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237 ✓ Higher
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.
Hemet, CA
Pros
Homes cost $161k less ($277,200 vs $438,100)
36% less violent crime than Santa Maria
Rent averages $411/mo less ($1,357 vs $1,768)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Cons
Median income trails Santa Maria by $31,336/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 6.3%)
Longer commutes — 36.8 min average each way
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,336 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (6.3%)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,100
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hemet
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Hemet
Violent Crime
36% lower
424.8 vs 660.6 per 100k
Hemet
Median Home Value
$161k less
$277,200 vs $438,100
Hemet
Summer Heat
21.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 73.3°F
Santa Maria
Median Income
$31,336
$81,237 vs $49,901/yr
Santa Maria
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
6.3% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hemet, CA | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $277,200 ✓ Lower | $438,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,901 | $81,237 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.8 min⚠ High | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.9:1 | 21.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.9% | 14.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hemet Unified | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 64.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.2" ✓ Drier | 13.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,651 | 109,543 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 22.4% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hemet's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Hemet is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Hemet leads 15 of 22 categories. Hemet wins 15 and Santa Maria wins 7. 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 Hemet to Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($277,200 vs $438,100 median home), income ($49,901 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hemet, CA and Santa Maria, CA are about 213 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.