El Monte vs Santa Maria: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of El Monte, CA and Santa Maria, CA, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 108,682 | 109,543 |
| Median household income | $59,929 | $81,237 |
| Median home value | $597,200 | $438,100 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,605 | $1,768 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing El Monte, CA and Santa Maria, CA comes down to what you value most. Santa Maria has the lower median home value, and El Monte has the lower median rent.
Santa Maria has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in El Monte or Santa Maria?
- By median home value, Santa Maria is the cheaper of the two ($438,100 vs $597,200). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, El Monte or Santa Maria?
- Median household income is $59,929 in El Monte versus $81,237 in Santa Maria, per the US Census Bureau.