Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mission Viejo, CA
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Mission Viejo leads 14 of 22 categories
Mission Viejo
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
26 ✓ Safer
Population
93,233
Santa Maria
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$81,237
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.
Mission Viejo, CA
Pros
85% less violent crime than Santa Maria
Households earn $55,333 more per year on average
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (99.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,600
Higher rents — median is $2,622/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Santa Maria
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Homes cost $446k less ($438,100 vs $883,600)
Rent averages $854/mo less ($1,768 vs $2,622)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 80°F
Smaller class sizes — 21.2:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Mission Viejo
Cons
Median income trails Mission Viejo by $55,333/yr
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Mission Viejo
Median Income
$55,333
$136,570 vs $81,237/yr
Mission Viejo
Violent Crime
85% lower
99.2 vs 660.6 per 100k
Mission Viejo
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.3% unemployment
Mission Viejo
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 79.5°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 Home Value
$446k less
$438,100 vs $883,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mission Viejo, 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 | $883,600⚠ High | $438,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,622⚠ High | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,570 ✓ Higher | $81,237 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.4% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 38 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 26 ✓ 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+ (107) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 21.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Saddleback Valley Unified | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 64.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 79.5°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,233 | 109,543 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 22.1% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mission Viejo'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, Mission Viejo leads 14 of 22 categories. Mission Viejo wins 14 and Santa Maria wins 8. 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 Mission Viejo to Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($883,600 vs $438,100 median home), income ($136,570 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mission Viejo, CA and Santa Maria, CA are about 184 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.