Santa Maria, California, known as "The Valley of the Flowers," is a vibrant and diverse community located near Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. With its scenic landscapes, strong local economy, and rich cultural heritage, Santa Maria offers a high quality of life for its residents. The city's blend of suburban tranquility and urban amenities makes living in Santa Maria an attractive option for families and professionals.
Residents of Santa Maria enjoy a variety of recreational activities and cultural events. The city's numerous parks, wineries, and cultural institutions provide ample opportunities for outdoor activities and enrichment. The Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum and the PCPA Pacific Conservatory Theatre are popular destinations that celebrate the city's natural beauty and cultural richness. The annual Santa Maria Elks Rodeo and the Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival are events that showcase Santa Mari...
Santa Maria's strong economy is supported by a diverse range of industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, and retail. The city's strategic location near Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo provides residents with easy access to job opportunities and cultural amenities in both metropolitan areas. Major employers in the area include Marian Regional Medical Center and the Santa Maria-Bonita School District.
Santa Maria is committed to community development, with numerous initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure, public services, and recreational facilities. These efforts contribute to the city's overall appeal and enhance the quality of life for its residents.
Public transportation in Santa Maria is well-developed, with access to Santa Maria Area Transit (SMAT) buses, facilitating easy commutes within the city and to neighboring areas. Santa Maria's climate features mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers, allowing for year-round outdoor activities. Overall, Santa Maria offers a blend of natural beauty, economic opportunity, and community spirit, making it a desirable place to live.
Amenities
Conveniently located, the area boasts a variety of amenities, including grocery stores, shopping, coffee shops and entertainment options all within walking distance.
Commute
The high commute score in this area could imply easy access to public transportation, as well as shorter-than-average commute times to your workplace.
Housing
Impressive scores in the housing category characterize this area, potentially attributed to the availability of affordable housing, strong appreciation rates and high home values.
Health & Safety
Accessible health facilities like hospitals, doctors offices, clinics and nursing homes as well as good air quality are all factors that have led to a high score in this category.
Cost Of Living
This area is known for its high cost of living, which means you should anticipate higher costs for everyday goods and services, housing, groceries, and health care.
Crime
Reporting high crime rates per 100,000 people, this area may be perceived as an unsafe place to reside. These statistics encompass both violent and property crime rates.
Schools
The low schools score might be a result of factors like lower than average education levels, lackluster reading and math scores and the inaccessibility of local elementary and high schools.
Santa Maria is a mid-sized city located in the state of California. The city has a population of 105,528 people. In Santa Maria, there are 4,626 people per square mile, which is well above the national population density average. According to the most recent Census, 71% of Santa Maria residents are White, 5% Asian and 1% Black. Additionally, more than a quarter of the population of Santa Maria are of Hispanic or Latino origin, and 60% of the population also speak Spanish. With an average age of 29 years old, Santa Maria could be a great place to live for young adults as this age is well below the national average. All the single ladies and all the single fellas might want to take notice as only 50% of the Santa Maria population is married.
Living in Santa Maria can be a positive experience for anyone relocating to the city. Having said that, in the state of California, there are many amazing places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. To help you find the best places to live in and around Santa Maria, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, health & safety, education, employment, housing and more.
The livability score in Santa Maria is 73 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 85th percentile of all cities across America. If we probe a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Santa Maria has higher than average grades for the following: amenities (A+), employment (B-) and housing (B+). There are some categories that Santa Maria does not rank well for, including: crime (F), cost of living (F) and education (D). It might be worth taking a closer look to find out why.
If you're living in Santa Maria, you can expect to enjoy a multitude of local amenities, mostly thanks to the strategic placement of essential services such as grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, parks and various shops. If you're contemplating a move to this locale with the intent of establishing it as your permanent residence, you'll be pleased to find an extensive array of amenities and recreational opportunities within easy reach, either on foot or via a brief commute. This wealth of accessible amenities not only enhances the livability of the area but also ensures that you can enjoy a rich and fulfilling lifestyle, making Santa Maria an attractive destination for those seeking a vibrant and well-served community to call home. Here are some of the more popular things to do in Santa Maria: PCPA Theaterfest, Santa Maria Museum of Flight, and Boomers Santa Maria.
Real estate represents the most substantial investment for homebuyers, constituting their most valuable asset. Renters, on the other hand, typically see their monthly rent as their most significant expense. The Santa Maria market earns a high score in the housing category, surpassing the national average in factors like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates. This robust real estate market not only benefits individual homeowners and renters but also spurs vigorous local economic activity and job growth, solidifying its significance in driving the region's prosperity and financial well-being.
Being close to public transit, grocery stores, parks and other conveniences are all important when weighing your options for a new home in Santa Maria. Before you determine if any of these amenities are available in the area, you will also want to know if the real estate prices in Santa Maria are affordable. The median home price for Santa Maria homes is $359,700, which is 12.1% lower than the California average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Santa Maria, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 5.3, which is 17.2% lower than the California average.
| Statistic | Santa Maria | California | National |
| Average one way commute | 22min | 28min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 69.1% | 73.5% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 23.2% | 10.6% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 2.0% | 5.2% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.5% | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 1.2% | 2.7% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 3.7% | 5.4% | 4.6% |
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