Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irving, TX
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Irving leads 14 of 23 categories
Irving
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,686
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Santa Maria
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
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.
Irving, TX
Pros
Homes cost $179k less ($259,500 vs $438,100)
58% less violent crime than Santa Maria
Rent averages $345/mo less ($1,423 vs $1,768)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Cons
Median income trails Santa Maria by $4,551/yr
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 57°F
Households earn $4,551 more per year on average
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
Irving
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Irving
Violent Crime
58% lower
275.4 vs 660.6 per 100k
Irving
Median Home Value
$179k less
$259,500 vs $438,100
Irving
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.3% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
22.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 73.3°F
Santa Maria
Median Income
$4,551
$81,237 vs $76,686/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irving, TX | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $259,500 ✓ Lower | $438,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,423⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,686 | $81,237 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | IRVING ISD | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 254,962 ✓ Larger | 109,543 |
| Median Age | 32.4 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.2% | 51.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.4% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 8.3% | 10.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irving's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Irving is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irving leads 14 of 23 categories. Irving wins 14 and Santa Maria wins 9. 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 Irving to Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($259,500 vs $438,100 median home), income ($76,686 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irving, TX and Santa Maria, CA are about 1,351 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.