Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Salem, OR
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Salem leads 16 of 23 categories
Salem
Oregon
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,540
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
175,754 ✓ Larger
Santa Maria
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237 ✓ Higher
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.
Salem, OR
Pros
Rent averages $544/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,768)
19% less violent crime than Santa Maria
Homes cost $89k less ($349,500 vs $438,100)
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Smaller class sizes — 19.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Santa Maria by $13,697/yr
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Households earn $13,697 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 84°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $438,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Salem
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Violent Crime
19% lower
532.2 vs 660.6 per 100k
Salem
Median Home Value
$89k less
$349,500 vs $438,100
Salem
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 83.5°F vs 73.3°F
Santa Maria
Median Income
$13,697
$81,237 vs $67,540/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Salem, OR | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $438,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,224 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,540 | $81,237 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.3% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 133⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Salem-Keizer SD 24J | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.5°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.5" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 175,754 ✓ Larger | 109,543 |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Salem's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Salem is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salem leads 16 of 23 categories. Salem wins 16 and Santa Maria wins 7. 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 Salem to Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($349,500 vs $438,100 median home), income ($67,540 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Salem, OR and Santa Maria, CA are about 704 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.