Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CT
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Norwalk leads 15 of 23 categories
Norwalk
Connecticut
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Santa Maria
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
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, CT
Pros
87% less violent crime than Santa Maria
More college-educated — 42.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $16,642 more per year on average
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Higher rents — median is $1,861/mo
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 38°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Homes cost $54k less ($438,100 vs $491,800)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 85°F
Rent averages $93/mo less ($1,768 vs $1,861)
Cons
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Norwalk by $16,642/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Norwalk
Key Differences at a Glance
Norwalk
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Norwalk
Median Income
$16,642
$97,879 vs $81,237/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
87% lower
85.0 vs 660.6 per 100k
Norwalk
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 84.8°F vs 73.3°F
Santa Maria
Median Home Value
$54k less
$438,100 vs $491,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, CT | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $491,800⚠ High | $438,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,861⚠ High | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,879 ✓ Higher | $81,237 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 42 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.6% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk School District | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.0°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,050 | 109,543 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.0 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Norwalk is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norwalk leads 15 of 23 categories. Norwalk wins 15 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 Norwalk to Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($491,800 vs $438,100 median home), income ($97,879 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CT and Santa Maria, CA are about 2,564 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.