Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Maria, CA
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 Tyler leads 16 of 23 categories
Santa Maria
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
109,543 ✓ Larger
Tyler
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,056
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Households earn $18,181 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 58°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 21% higher than Tyler
Tyler, TX
Pros
Homes cost $233k less ($205,200 vs $438,100)
Rent averages $655/mo less ($1,113 vs $1,768)
41% less violent crime than Santa Maria
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 31.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Santa Maria by $18,181/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Maria
Median Income
$18,181
$81,237 vs $63,056/yr
Tyler
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Tyler
Violent Crime
41% lower
391.2 vs 660.6 per 100k
Tyler
Median Home Value
$233k less
$205,200 vs $438,100
Tyler
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.3% unemployment
Tyler
Summer Heat
19.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 73.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Maria, CA | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,100⚠ High | $205,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High | $1,113 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,237 ✓ Higher | $63,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 20.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 6.1% ✓ 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 | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (62) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.2:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.5% | 31.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.3% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Maria-Bonita | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer | 57.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 73.3°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.3" ✓ Drier | 47.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 109,543 ✓ Larger | 106,440 |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.2% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 31.0% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Maria's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Tyler is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tyler leads 16 of 23 categories. Santa Maria wins 7 and Tyler 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,100 vs $205,200 median home), income ($81,237 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Maria, CA and Tyler, TX are about 1,454 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.