Santa Maria-Santa Barbara receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | Santa Cruz-Watsonville | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 264,926 | 443,701 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $111,093 | $98,161 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $56,941 | $48,028 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 595/sq mi | 162/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $1,027,500 | $790,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,264 | $2,131 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 59.9% | 52.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.0% | -0.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.9% | 36.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.6% | 14.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 791 | 1,613 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.0 | 3.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 204.2% | 93.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 72°F | 71°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 40°F | 43°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 22.4" | 19.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 25 mi | 35 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 27.9 min | 22.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.8 | 34.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Santa Cruz-Watsonville
Elevated or high exposure: drought, earthquake, inland flooding.
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
Elevated or high exposure: landslide, drought, earthquake.
Your best match
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Full profiles: Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA Metro Area · Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology