Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Maria, CA
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Worcester leads 13 of 21 categories
Santa Maria
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
109,543
Worcester
Massachusetts
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,011
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Households earn $18,226 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 32°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 80°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Worcester, MA
Pros
98% less violent crime than Santa Maria
Homes cost $133k less ($305,600 vs $438,100)
Rent averages $456/mo less ($1,312 vs $1,768)
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Cons
Median income trails Santa Maria by $18,226/yr
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Maria
Median Income
$18,226
$81,237 vs $63,011/yr
Worcester
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Worcester
Violent Crime
98% lower
16.5 vs 660.6 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$133k less
$305,600 vs $438,100
Worcester
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 79.8°F vs 73.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Maria, CA | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $438,100⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,237 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 140⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (62) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.2:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.5% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.3% | 85.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Maria-Bonita | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 73.3°F | 79.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.3" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 109,543 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 31.0% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Maria's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Worcester is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Worcester leads 13 of 21 categories. Santa Maria wins 8 and Worcester wins 13. 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,100 vs $305,600 median home), income ($81,237 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Maria, CA and Worcester, MA are about 2,638 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.