Moving to Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
What you need to know before relocating to Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, California. Data-driven insights on housing, jobs, safety, and quality of life.
Is Santa Maria-Santa Barbara a Good Place to Live?
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara presents a mixed picture. Prospective residents should weigh the tradeoffs carefully. Key considerations: rent ($1,988/mo) is above the national average; home prices ($780,700) are above the us median.
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara at a Glance
Cost of Living in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
The median rent in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara is $1,988/month, while the median home value is $780,700. With a median household income of $91,197, residents spend roughly 26% of monthly income on rent.
Overall, the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area is classified as very expensive compared to other US metros.
Job Market
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara has a median household income of $91,197, which is 22% above the national median. The local unemployment rate is 4.0%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.
Safety in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
The violent crime rate in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara is 508 per 100,000 residents, which is 34% above the national average of 380.
Property crime rate: 2326 per 100,000 residents.
Education in California
California has a high school graduation rate of 85% and per-pupil spending of $18,020/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 22:1.
39% of California adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Healthcare Access
California has 285 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 5.9% uninsured rate, and 1.9 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in California is 79.0 years.
Pros and Cons of Living in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
+Pros
- ✓Median household income ($91,197) exceeds the national median
- ✓Low uninsured rate (5.9%) and good healthcare access
-Cons
- ✗Rent ($1,988/mo) is above the national average
- ✗Home prices ($780,700) are above the US median
- ✗Violent crime rate (508/100k) exceeds the national average
- ✗Longer-than-average commute (174805 min)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santa Maria-Santa Barbara a good place to live?⌄
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara has both advantages and drawbacks. Prospective residents should weigh rent ($1,988/mo) is above the national average and home prices ($780,700) are above the us median against other lifestyle factors.
What is the cost of living in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?⌄
The median rent in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara is $1,988/month and the median home value is $780,700. The median household income is $91,197. Overall the metro is considered very expensive.
Is Santa Maria-Santa Barbara safe?⌄
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara has a violent crime rate of 508 incidents per 100,000 residents. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.
What is the job market like in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?⌄
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $91,197.