Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, CA
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Santa Maria leads 13 of 22 categories
Richmond
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619 ✓ Larger
Santa Maria
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Richmond, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,381 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (2762.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Homes cost $187k less ($438,100 vs $624,800)
28% less violent crime than Richmond
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 58°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
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 Richmond by $5,381/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Median Income
$5,381
$86,618 vs $81,237/yr
Santa Maria
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 113.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Santa Maria
Violent Crime
28% lower
660.6 vs 923.1 per 100k
Santa Maria
Median Home Value
$187k less
$438,100 vs $624,800
Santa Maria
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, CA | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,800⚠ High | $438,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,618 ✓ Higher | $81,237 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.6 min⚠ High | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.2% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 198⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 21.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | West Contra Costa Unified | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.2°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 70.8°F | 73.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,619 ✓ Larger | 109,543 |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Santa Maria is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Santa Maria leads 13 of 22 categories. Richmond wins 9 and Santa Maria wins 13. 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 Richmond to Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,800 vs $438,100 median home), income ($86,618 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, CA and Santa Maria, CA are about 234 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.