Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Round Rock, TX
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Round Rock leads 16 of 22 categories
Round Rock
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$91,888 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
120,465 ✓ Larger
Santa Maria
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
109,543
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Round Rock, TX
Pros
80% less violent crime than Santa Maria
Homes cost $101k less ($337,500 vs $438,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 42.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (130.7 vs 380/100k)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 96°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 60°F
Cons
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $438,100
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Round Rock
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Round Rock
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Round Rock
Median Income
$10,651
$91,888 vs $81,237/yr
Round Rock
Violent Crime
80% lower
130.7 vs 660.6 per 100k
Round Rock
Median Home Value
$101k less
$337,500 vs $438,100
Round Rock
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Round Rock
Summer Heat
22.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 73.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Round Rock, TX | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $337,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $438,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,586⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,888 ✓ Higher | $81,237 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 34 ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.3% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROUND ROCK ISD | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.7°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,465 ✓ Larger | 109,543 |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.3% | 10.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Round Rock's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Round Rock is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Round Rock leads 16 of 22 categories. Round Rock wins 16 and Santa Maria wins 6. 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 Round Rock to Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($337,500 vs $438,100 median home), income ($91,888 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Round Rock, TX and Santa Maria, CA are about 1,356 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.