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 Maria-Santa Barbara | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 443,701 | 281,555 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $98,161 | $97,446 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $48,028 | $51,592 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 162/sq mi | 85/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $790,700 | $824,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,131 | $1,992 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 52.4% | 62.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 4.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.7% | -3.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.8% | 39.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.7% | 12.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,613 | 803 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.6 | 2.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 93.9% | 5.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 71°F | 78°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 43°F | 41°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 19.0" | 17.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 35 mi | 34 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.6 min | 23.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 34.6 | 40.4 | 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 Maria-Santa Barbara
Elevated or high exposure: landslide, drought, earthquake.
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles
Elevated or high exposure: drought, wildfire, earthquake.
Your best match
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Full profiles: Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA Metro Area · San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology