Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Maria, CA
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe 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
Tempe
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 106°F
Households earn $9,215 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Tempe
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Tempe, AZ
Pros
29% less violent crime than Santa Maria
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $296/mo less ($1,472 vs $1,768)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Homes cost $56k less ($382,100 vs $438,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.7%)
Cons
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Santa Maria by $9,215/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Maria
Median Income
$9,215
$81,237 vs $72,022/yr
Tempe
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Violent Crime
29% lower
470.3 vs 660.6 per 100k
Tempe
Median Home Value
$56k less
$382,100 vs $438,100
Tempe
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.3% unemployment
Tempe
Summer Heat
32.6°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 73.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Maria, CA | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,100⚠ High | $382,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,237 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 140⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (62) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.2:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.5% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.3% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Maria-Bonita | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.7°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 73.3°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.3" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 109,543 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 29.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 31.0% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Maria's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tempe leads 17 of 22 categories. Santa Maria wins 5 and Tempe 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,100 vs $382,100 median home), income ($81,237 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Maria, CA and Tempe, AZ are about 498 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.