Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CA
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Norwalk leads 13 of 22 categories
Norwalk
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
101,893
Santa Maria
California
9
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.
Norwalk, CA
Pros
43% less violent crime than Santa Maria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.6%)
Households earn $10,022 more per year on average
More college-educated — 20.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Longer commutes — 29.5 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $1,860/mo
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Homes cost $155k less ($438,100 vs $593,100)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 84°F
Smaller class sizes — 21.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Rent averages $92/mo less ($1,768 vs $1,860)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Cons
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)
Median income trails Norwalk by $10,022/yr
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Norwalk
Median Income
$10,022
$91,259 vs $81,237/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
43% lower
374.4 vs 660.6 per 100k
Norwalk
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.3% unemployment
Norwalk
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 84.4°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
$155k less
$438,100 vs $593,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, 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 | $593,100⚠ High | $438,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,860⚠ High | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,259 ✓ Higher | $81,237 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.5 min⚠ High | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.8:1 | 21.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 64.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,893 | 109,543 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.6% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk'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, Norwalk leads 13 of 22 categories. Norwalk 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 Norwalk to Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,100 vs $438,100 median home), income ($91,259 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CA and Santa Maria, CA are about 152 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.