Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Maria, CA
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 West Covina leads 12 of 22 categories
Santa Maria
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$81,237
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
109,543 ✓ Larger
West Covina
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
63 ✓ Safer
Population
108,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Homes cost $226k less ($438,100 vs $664,500)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Rent averages $286/mo less ($1,768 vs $2,054)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 90°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than West Covina
Cons
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails West Covina by $14,982/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
West Covina, CA
Pros
64% less violent crime than Santa Maria
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $14,982 more per year on average
More college-educated — 29.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Longer commutes — 33.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Maria
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 113.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Santa Maria
Median Home Value
$226k less
$438,100 vs $664,500
West Covina
Median Income
$14,982
$96,219 vs $81,237/yr
West Covina
Violent Crime
64% lower
239.3 vs 660.6 per 100k
West Covina
Summer Heat
17.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 73.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Maria, CA | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $438,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,237 | $96,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 9.2% ✓ 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 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 100 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (62) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.5% | 29.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.3% | 86.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Maria-Bonita | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.7°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 73.3°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.3" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 109,543 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.2% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 31.0% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Maria's cost of living index is 113.5 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Santa Maria is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, West Covina leads 12 of 22 categories. Santa Maria wins 10 and West Covina wins 12. 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,100 vs $664,500 median home), income ($81,237 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Maria, CA and West Covina, CA are about 156 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.