Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Maria, CA
VS
Toledo, OH
🏆 Toledo leads 13 of 23 categories
Santa Maria
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
109,543
Toledo
Ohio
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,832 more per year on average
37% less violent crime than Toledo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (6.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 34°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 85°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,100
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Toledo
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $339k less ($98,800 vs $438,100)
Rent averages $914/mo less ($854 vs $1,768)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
More college-educated — 20.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Maria by $35,832/yr
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 6.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Maria
Median Income
$35,832
$81,237 vs $45,405/yr
Santa Maria
Violent Crime
37% lower
660.6 vs 1041.1 per 100k
Santa Maria
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
6.3% vs 8.2% unemployment
Toledo
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 90.4 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Toledo
Median Home Value
$339k less
$98,800 vs $438,100
Toledo
Summer Heat
11.3°F warmer
July avg high 84.6°F vs 73.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Maria, CA | Toledo, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 90.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,100⚠ High | $98,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High | $854 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,237 ✓ Higher | $45,405 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (62) | C+ (86) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.2:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.5% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.3% | 88.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Maria-Bonita | Toledo City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 73.3°F | 84.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.3" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 37.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 109,543 | 269,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.2% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 31.0% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Maria's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Toledo's 90.4 (US average = 100).
Toledo is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toledo leads 13 of 23 categories. Santa Maria wins 10 and Toledo 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 Toledo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,100 vs $98,800 median home), income ($81,237 vs $45,405), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Maria, CA and Toledo, OH are about 2,036 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.