Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Maria, CA
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa leads 17 of 22 categories
Santa Maria
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
109,543
Tampa
Florida
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,802
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Households earn $14,435 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 91°F
Cons
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $438,100
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Tampa, FL
Pros
33% less violent crime than Santa Maria
Homes cost $105k less ($333,200 vs $438,100)
Rent averages $346/mo less ($1,422 vs $1,768)
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.2%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Cons
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Santa Maria by $14,435/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Maria
Median Income
$14,435
$81,237 vs $66,802/yr
Tampa
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Tampa
Violent Crime
33% lower
444.6 vs 660.6 per 100k
Tampa
Median Home Value
$105k less
$333,200 vs $438,100
Tampa
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.3% unemployment
Tampa
Summer Heat
17.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 73.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Maria, CA | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,100⚠ High | $333,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High | $1,422⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,237 ✓ Higher | $66,802 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 140⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (62) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.2:1 | 19.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.5% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.3% | 89.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Maria-Bonita | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.7°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 73.3°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.3" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 109,543 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 31.0% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Maria's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Tampa is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tampa leads 17 of 22 categories. Santa Maria wins 5 and Tampa wins 17. 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,100 vs $333,200 median home), income ($81,237 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Maria, CA and Tampa, FL are about 2,275 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.