Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Maria, CA
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Tacoma leads 14 of 23 categories
Santa Maria
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
109,543
Tacoma
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
38% less violent crime than Tacoma
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 48°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)
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.4%)
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Rent averages $279/mo less ($1,489 vs $1,768)
More college-educated — 32.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.4%)
Homes cost $23k less ($415,300 vs $438,100)
Smaller class sizes — 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Maria
Median Income
$2,152
$81,237 vs $79,085/yr
Santa Maria
Violent Crime
38% lower
660.6 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Tacoma
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$23k less
$415,300 vs $438,100
Tacoma
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.3% unemployment
Tacoma
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 76.8°F vs 73.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Maria, CA | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,100⚠ High | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,237 ✓ Higher | $79,085 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (62) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.2:1 | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.5% | 32.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.3% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Maria-Bonita | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 73.3°F | 76.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.3" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 109,543 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.2% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 31.0% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Maria's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Tacoma is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tacoma leads 14 of 23 categories. Santa Maria wins 9 and Tacoma wins 14. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,100 vs $415,300 median home), income ($81,237 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Maria, CA and Tacoma, WA are about 858 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.