Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Maria, CA
VS
Stockton, CA
🏆 Stockton leads 12 of 22 categories
Santa Maria
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
109,543
Stockton
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,612
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
320,030 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
42% less violent crime than Stockton
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.3%)
Households earn $9,625 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 95°F
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 58°F
Cons
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $438,100
Stockton, CA
Pros
Rent averages $351/mo less ($1,417 vs $1,768)
Homes cost $56k less ($382,000 vs $438,100)
More college-educated — 18.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Cons
Violent crime (1145.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2639.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Santa Maria by $9,625/yr
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 6.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Maria
Median Income
$9,625
$81,237 vs $71,612/yr
Santa Maria
Violent Crime
42% lower
660.6 vs 1145.8 per 100k
Santa Maria
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.7% unemployment
Stockton
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Stockton
Median Home Value
$56k less
$382,000 vs $438,100
Stockton
Summer Heat
21.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.7°F vs 73.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Maria, CA | Stockton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,100⚠ High | $382,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High | $1,417⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,237 ✓ Higher | $71,612 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 5.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (62) | C- (74) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.5% | 18.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.3% | 77.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Maria-Bonita | Stockton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer | 58.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 73.3°F | 94.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.3" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 109,543 | 320,030 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 33.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.2% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 31.0% ✓ More | 27.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Maria's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Stockton's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Stockton is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Stockton leads 12 of 22 categories. Santa Maria wins 10 and Stockton 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 Santa Maria to Stockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,100 vs $382,000 median home), income ($81,237 vs $71,612), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Maria, CA and Stockton, CA are about 216 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.