Santa Maria vs Sugar Land: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Santa Maria, CA and Sugar Land, TX, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Santa Maria, CA | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 109,543 | 110,077 |
| Median household income | $81,237 | $132,247 |
| Median home value | $438,100 | $387,900 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,768 | $1,868 |
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 Santa Maria, CA and Sugar Land, TX comes down to what you value most. Sugar Land has the lower median home value, and Santa Maria has the lower median rent.
Sugar Land 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 Santa Maria or Sugar Land?
- By median home value, Sugar Land is the cheaper of the two ($387,900 vs $438,100). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Santa Maria or Sugar Land?
- Median household income is $81,237 in Santa Maria versus $132,247 in Sugar Land, per the US Census Bureau.