Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Maria, CA
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Vancouver leads 14 of 23 categories
Santa Maria
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
109,543
Vancouver
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,626
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
190,700 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 47°F
Households earn $7,611 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 81°F
Cons
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.6%)
Vancouver, WA
Pros
12% less violent crime than Santa Maria
Rent averages $243/mo less ($1,525 vs $1,768)
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.6%)
Homes cost $35k less ($403,400 vs $438,100)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Santa Maria by $7,611/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Maria
Median Income
$7,611
$81,237 vs $73,626/yr
Vancouver
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Vancouver
Violent Crime
12% lower
582.3 vs 660.6 per 100k
Vancouver
Median Home Value
$35k less
$403,400 vs $438,100
Vancouver
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.3% unemployment
Vancouver
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 80.9°F vs 73.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Maria, CA | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,100⚠ High | $403,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High | $1,525⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,237 ✓ Higher | $73,626 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (62) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.2:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.5% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.3% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Maria-Bonita | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer | 47.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 73.3°F | 80.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.3" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 109,543 | 190,700 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 31.0% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Maria's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Vancouver is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vancouver leads 14 of 23 categories. Santa Maria wins 9 and Vancouver 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 Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,100 vs $403,400 median home), income ($81,237 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Maria, CA and Vancouver, WA are about 748 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.