Santa Maria, CA Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Santa Maria, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Santa Maria →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Santa Maria, California is home to roughly 109,543 residents. The typical household here earns $81,237 a year — above the median we track across cities (+13%).
Anyone weighing a move to Santa Maria should know the median home value is $438,100, above the multi-city median (+34%), and median rent runs $1,768 per month. Current mortgage rates and local property taxes both affect the real math of buying versus renting.
Buying a typical home in Santa Maria would run about 5.4 years of median household income — a moderate multiple, not unusually high or low. Santa Maria's home prices climbed 3.26% over the past year — steady appreciation without signs of overheating. Natural-hazard exposure in Santa Maria is rated Relatively High by FEMA, on the elevated end — something to check with insurers before buying.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,768/mo in Santa Maria would take 26.1% of your income.
$263/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($438,100) would take 34.5% of your income toward principal & interest.
$443/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Santa Maria
Median home value is $438,100 and median gross rent is $1,768/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Santa Barbara rose 3.26% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $3,124/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Santa Maria's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Santa Maria reported a violent crime rate of 625.6 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Santa Maria
Planning a move to Santa Maria? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Santa Maria, CA?
- The US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022) puts Santa Maria's median home value at $438,100, median rent at $1,768/month, and median household income at $81,237.
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Santa Maria?
- To keep rent under the commonly recommended 30% of income in Santa Maria, where median rent runs $1,768/month, you'd want to earn about $70,720 annually. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Santa Maria.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Santa Maria?
- With a median home value of $438,100 and median rent of $1,768/month, renting comfortably in Santa Maria takes about $70,720/year (the 30% guideline), while buying at the median price takes roughly $100,235/year in principal-and-interest alone (assumes 20% down, a 30-year fixed loan, and current mortgage rates). The right call depends on how long you plan to stay and your down payment.
- Is Santa Maria safe?
- The most recent FBI figures (2025) show a violent crime rate of 625.6 per 100,000 residents in Santa Maria.
See the full salary breakdown for Santa Maria →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Santa Maria's.