Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portland, OR
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Portland leads 14 of 23 categories
Portland
Oregon
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Santa Maria
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
109,543
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portland, OR
Pros
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $238/mo less ($1,530 vs $1,768)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.6%)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Households earn $4,639 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 16.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
8% less violent crime than Portland
Homes cost $85k less ($438,100 vs $523,100)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 47°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Portland
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Portland
Median Income
$4,639
$85,876 vs $81,237/yr
Portland
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.3% unemployment
Portland
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 80.3°F vs 73.3°F
Santa Maria
Violent Crime
8% lower
660.6 vs 720.1 per 100k
Santa Maria
Median Home Value
$85k less
$438,100 vs $523,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $523,100⚠ High | $438,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,876 ✓ Higher | $81,237 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.0% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 219⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 263⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.5% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portland SD 1J | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.9°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.9" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 646,101 ✓ Larger | 109,543 |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portland's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Portland is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portland leads 14 of 23 categories. Portland 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 Portland to Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($523,100 vs $438,100 median home), income ($85,876 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portland, OR and Santa Maria, CA are about 742 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.