Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Maria, CA
VS
Temecula, CA
🏆 Temecula leads 16 of 23 categories
Santa Maria
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
109,543
Temecula
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,881 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
110,114 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Homes cost $166k less ($438,100 vs $604,300)
Rent averages $454/mo less ($1,768 vs $2,222)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 87°F
Smaller class sizes — 21.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Temecula by $30,644/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)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Temecula
Temecula, CA
Pros
77% less violent crime than Santa Maria
Households earn $30,644 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.8%)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $604,300
Higher rents — median is $2,222/mo
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Maria
Median Home Value
$166k less
$438,100 vs $604,300
Temecula
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Temecula
Median Income
$30,644
$111,881 vs $81,237/yr
Temecula
Violent Crime
77% lower
151.5 vs 660.6 per 100k
Temecula
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Temecula
Summer Heat
13.9°F warmer
July avg high 87.2°F vs 73.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Maria, CA | Temecula, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $604,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,222⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,237 | $111,881 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 140⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (62) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.5% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.3% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Maria-Bonita | Temecula Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.7°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 73.3°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.3" ✓ Drier | 15.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 109,543 | 110,114 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.2% | 68.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 31.0% ✓ More | 27.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 11.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Maria's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Temecula's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Temecula is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Temecula leads 16 of 23 categories. Santa Maria wins 7 and Temecula wins 16. 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 Temecula or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,100 vs $604,300 median home), income ($81,237 vs $111,881), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Maria, CA and Temecula, CA are about 214 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.