Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Maria, CA
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Tracy leads 14 of 22 categories
Santa Maria
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
109,543 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Homes cost $179k less ($438,100 vs $617,300)
Commutes run 21 min shorter each way
Rent averages $394/mo less ($1,768 vs $2,162)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 57°F
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $30,480/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)
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.4%)
Tracy, CA
Pros
54% less violent crime than Santa Maria
Households earn $30,480 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 24.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Maria
Median Home Value
$179k less
$438,100 vs $617,300
Tracy
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Tracy
Median Income
$30,480
$111,717 vs $81,237/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
54% lower
301.4 vs 660.6 per 100k
Tracy
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.3% unemployment
Tracy
Summer Heat
19.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 73.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Maria, CA | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,237 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 140⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (62) | C- (71) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.5% | 24.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.3% | 83.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Maria-Bonita | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 73.3°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.3" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 109,543 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.2% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 31.0% ✓ More | 26.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Maria's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Tracy is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tracy leads 14 of 22 categories. Santa Maria wins 8 and Tracy 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,100 vs $617,300 median home), income ($81,237 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Maria, CA and Tracy, CA are about 201 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.