Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Maria, CA
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 13 of 22 categories
Santa Maria
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
109,543
Sunnyvale
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Homes cost $1243k less ($438,100 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1222/mo less ($1,768 vs $2,990)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 59°F
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $93,269/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 4.1%)
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $93,269 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Santa Maria
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.1%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Maria
Median Home Value
$1243k less
$438,100 vs $1,680,700
Sunnyvale
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 112.9 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$93,269
$174,506 vs $81,237/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
63% lower
244.5 vs 660.6 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.3% unemployment
Sunnyvale
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 76.9°F vs 73.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Maria, CA | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,237 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 140⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (62) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.5% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.3% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Maria-Bonita | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 73.3°F | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.3" ✓ Drier | 13.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 109,543 | 154,573 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 31.0% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Maria's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Sunnyvale is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 13 of 22 categories. Santa Maria wins 9 and Sunnyvale wins 13. 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,100 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($81,237 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Maria, CA and Sunnyvale, CA are about 191 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.