Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Mateo, CA
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 San Mateo leads 12 of 22 categories
San Mateo
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
104,165
Santa Maria
California
10
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 Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $67,915 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Santa Maria
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.7%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Homes cost $1071k less ($438,100 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1203/mo less ($1,768 vs $2,971)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 58°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $67,915/yr
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)
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Mateo
Median Income
$67,915
$149,152 vs $81,237/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
63% lower
243.2 vs 660.6 per 100k
San Mateo
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.7% 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
$1071k less
$438,100 vs $1,508,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Mateo, 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 | $1,508,900⚠ High | $438,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,971⚠ High | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,152 ✓ Higher | $81,237 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.9% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 74 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.2% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Mateo-Foster City | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 72.6°F | 73.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.3" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,165 | 109,543 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.4% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Mateo'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, San Mateo leads 12 of 22 categories. San Mateo wins 12 and Santa Maria wins 10. 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 Mateo to Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,508,900 vs $438,100 median home), income ($149,152 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Mateo, CA and Santa Maria, CA are about 209 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.