Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Maria, CA
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 St. Paul leads 15 of 23 categories
Santa Maria
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
109,543
St. Paul
Minnesota
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,919
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 24°F
Households earn $11,318 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 83°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,100
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
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)
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Homes cost $173k less ($264,900 vs $438,100)
Rent averages $594/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,768)
6% less violent crime than Santa Maria
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.0%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Santa Maria by $11,318/yr
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Maria
Median Income
$11,318
$81,237 vs $69,919/yr
St. Paul
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
St. Paul
Violent Crime
6% lower
617.7 vs 660.6 per 100k
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$173k less
$264,900 vs $438,100
St. Paul
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.3% unemployment
St. Paul
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 82.6°F vs 73.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Maria, CA | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,100⚠ High | $264,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,237 ✓ Higher | $69,919 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (62) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.2:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.5% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.3% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Maria-Bonita | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 73.3°F | 82.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.3" ✓ Drier | 29.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 109,543 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.2% | 53.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 31.0% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 11.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Maria's cost of living index is 113.5 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
St. Paul is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Paul leads 15 of 23 categories. Santa Maria wins 8 and St. Paul wins 15. 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 Santa Maria to St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,100 vs $264,900 median home), income ($81,237 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Maria, CA and St. Paul, MN are about 1,595 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.