Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palm Coast, FL
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Palm Coast leads 14 of 19 categories
Palm Coast
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$68,824
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,082
Santa Maria
California
5
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.
Palm Coast, FL
Pros
Homes cost $155k less ($283,300 vs $438,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 26.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Rent averages $147/mo less ($1,621 vs $1,768)
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Maria by $12,413/yr
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Households earn $12,413 more per year on average
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,100
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 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Palm Coast
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Palm Coast
Median Home Value
$155k less
$283,300 vs $438,100
Palm Coast
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.3% unemployment
Palm Coast
Summer Heat
14.5°F warmer
July avg high 87.8°F vs 73.3°F
Santa Maria
Median Income
$12,413
$81,237 vs $68,824/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palm Coast, FL | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $283,300 ✓ Lower | $438,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,621⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $68,824 | $81,237 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.1% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 140⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.8% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FLAGLER | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer | 64.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.8°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,082 | 109,543 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 50.3 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.9% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 29.5% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palm Coast's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Palm Coast is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Palm Coast leads 14 of 19 categories. Palm Coast wins 14 and Santa Maria wins 5. 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 Palm Coast to Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($283,300 vs $438,100 median home), income ($68,824 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palm Coast, FL and Santa Maria, CA are about 2,306 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.