Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lynn, MA
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Lynn leads 14 of 23 categories
Lynn
Massachusetts
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,046
Violent Crime Index
151⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
100,653
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lynn, MA
Pros
13% less violent crime than Santa Maria
Rent averages $257/mo less ($1,511 vs $1,768)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 21.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (574.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Santa Maria by $11,191/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Households earn $11,191 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 36°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 80°F
Cons
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
Lynn
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Lynn
Violent Crime
13% lower
574.6 vs 660.6 per 100k
Lynn
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.3% unemployment
Lynn
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 80.3°F vs 73.3°F
Santa Maria
Median Income
$11,191
$81,237 vs $70,046/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lynn, MA | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $442,800⚠ High | $438,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,511⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,046 | $81,237 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 56 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.9% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 77.2% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lynn | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.1°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,653 | 109,543 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.2 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.6% | 51.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lynn's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Lynn is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lynn leads 14 of 23 categories. Lynn 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 Lynn to Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($442,800 vs $438,100 median home), income ($70,046 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lynn, MA and Santa Maria, CA are about 2,680 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.