Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Maria, CA
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Waterbury 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
Waterbury
Connecticut
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Households earn $29,786 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (6.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 37°F
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 84°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 18% higher than Waterbury
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $275k less ($162,800 vs $438,100)
Rent averages $628/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,768)
51% less violent crime than Santa Maria
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Maria by $29,786/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 6.3%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Maria
Median Income
$29,786
$81,237 vs $51,451/yr
Santa Maria
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
6.3% vs 9.8% unemployment
Waterbury
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Violent Crime
51% lower
322.5 vs 660.6 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$275k less
$162,800 vs $438,100
Waterbury
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 84.0°F vs 73.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Maria, CA | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,100⚠ High | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,237 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 6.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 140⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (62) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.2:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.5% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.3% | 81.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Maria-Bonita | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 73.3°F | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.3" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 109,543 | 114,480 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 31.0% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Maria's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waterbury leads 14 of 23 categories. Santa Maria wins 9 and Waterbury 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 Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,100 vs $162,800 median home), income ($81,237 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Maria, CA and Waterbury, CT are about 2,580 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.