Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pueblo, CO
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Pueblo leads 14 of 23 categories
Pueblo
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,794
Violent Crime Index
375⚠ High
Population
111,430 ✓ Larger
Santa Maria
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237 ✓ Higher
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.
Pueblo, CO
Pros
Homes cost $240k less ($197,700 vs $438,100)
Rent averages $828/mo less ($940 vs $1,768)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
More college-educated — 21.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Maria by $28,443/yr
Violent crime (1424.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4942.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,443 more per year on average
54% less violent crime than Pueblo
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,100
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Pueblo
Key Differences at a Glance
Pueblo
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Pueblo
Median Home Value
$240k less
$197,700 vs $438,100
Pueblo
Summer Heat
19.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.0°F vs 73.3°F
Santa Maria
Median Income
$28,443
$81,237 vs $52,794/yr
Santa Maria
Violent Crime
54% lower
660.6 vs 1424.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pueblo, CO | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $197,700 ✓ Lower | $438,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $940 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,794 | $81,237 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 319⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 375⚠ High | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 235⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.8% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pueblo School District No. 60 in the county of Pueblo and | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.0°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,430 ✓ Larger | 109,543 |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.3% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pueblo's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Pueblo is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pueblo leads 14 of 23 categories. Pueblo 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 Pueblo to Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,700 vs $438,100 median home), income ($52,794 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pueblo, CO and Santa Maria, CA are about 907 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.