Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Knoxville leads 13 of 22 categories
Knoxville
Tennessee
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
Santa Maria
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
109,543
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $254k less ($184,200 vs $438,100)
Rent averages $725/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,768)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Maria by $32,928/yr
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Households earn $32,928 more per year on average
11% less violent crime than Knoxville
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,100
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Knoxville
Key Differences at a Glance
Knoxville
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$254k less
$184,200 vs $438,100
Knoxville
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Knoxville
Summer Heat
15.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 73.3°F
Santa Maria
Median Income
$32,928
$81,237 vs $48,309/yr
Santa Maria
Violent Crime
11% lower
660.6 vs 740.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 ✓ Lower | $438,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $81,237 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 ✓ Larger | 109,543 |
| Median Age | 33.4 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% | 51.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Knoxville leads 13 of 22 categories. Knoxville wins 13 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 Knoxville to Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $438,100 median home), income ($48,309 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Santa Maria, CA are about 2,043 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.