Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Leandro, CA
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Santa Maria leads 12 of 22 categories
San Leandro
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,723
Santa Maria
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$81,237
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
109,543 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Leandro, CA
Pros
17% less violent crime than Santa Maria
Households earn $15,904 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $772,700
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (3922.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Homes cost $335k less ($438,100 vs $772,700)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Rent averages $229/mo less ($1,768 vs $1,997)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 58°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than San Leandro
Cons
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails San Leandro by $15,904/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Leandro
Median Income
$15,904
$97,141 vs $81,237/yr
San Leandro
Violent Crime
17% lower
548.7 vs 660.6 per 100k
San Leandro
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.3% unemployment
Santa Maria
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 113.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Santa Maria
Median Home Value
$335k less
$438,100 vs $772,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Leandro, 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 | $772,700⚠ High | $438,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,997⚠ High | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,141 ✓ Higher | $81,237 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.6 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 | 161⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 187⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.6:1 | 21.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 84.3% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Leandro Unified | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 71.6°F | 73.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.7" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,723 | 109,543 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.5 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.6% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Leandro'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 12 of 22 categories. San Leandro wins 10 and Santa Maria wins 12. 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 San Leandro to Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($772,700 vs $438,100 median home), income ($97,141 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Leandro, CA and Santa Maria, CA are about 214 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.