Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Lancaster leads 12 of 22 categories
Lancaster
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Santa Maria
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Homes cost $69k less ($368,800 vs $438,100)
Rent averages $192/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,768)
More college-educated — 19.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Santa Maria by $9,870/yr
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 6.3%)
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
21% less violent crime than Lancaster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (6.3%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Households earn $9,870 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 98°F
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 59°F
Cons
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $438,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Median Home Value
$69k less
$368,800 vs $438,100
Lancaster
Summer Heat
24.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°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 Income
$9,870
$81,237 vs $71,367/yr
Santa Maria
Violent Crime
21% lower
660.6 vs 834.7 per 100k
Santa Maria
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, 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 | $368,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $438,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 | $81,237 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 21.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 13.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 ✓ Larger | 109,543 |
| Median Age | 33.6 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.2% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster'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, Lancaster leads 12 of 22 categories. Lancaster wins 12 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 Lancaster to Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $438,100 median home), income ($71,367 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Santa Maria, CA are about 130 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.