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Santa Maria, CA

College town · College teaching jobs 1.8x the U.S. share

Vandenberg Space Force Base is part of the Santa Maria area. This page covers the whole metro.

Everyday life
Shops, cafes, and daily routines
Hobbies & activities
Trails, parks, and pastimes
Nearby scenery
Lakes, overlooks, and drives

Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.

What locals say

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Where it is
Santa Maria
Santa Maria in California
California in the U.S.
State outlines: U.S. Census Bureau.

What's nearby

Within 5 miles of the center of the Santa Maria area.

20
grocery stores
65
restaurants
16
coffee shops
54
parks
55
playgrounds
2
libraries
3
movie theaters
2
live theaters
4
museums
3
bookstores
2
gyms
8
bars
10
pharmacies
1
hospital

Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

What rent costs

Of about 67,581 rented homes in the Santa Maria area, 48% rent for under $2,000 a month and 81% for under $3,000.

Under $1,000: 9%
$1,000 to $1,499: 15%
$1,500 to $1,999: 24%
$2,000 to $2,499: 21%
$2,500 to $2,999: 11%
$3,000 or more: 19%

Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

Public schools

21 public school districts in this county, with about 63,349 students in all. Which one serves a home depends on its address.

Santa Maria-Bonita · Santa Maria
16,703 students · 21.5 students per teacher · 21 schools · grades K to 8
Santa Maria Joint Union High · Santa Maria
9,251 students · 23.1 students per teacher · 4 schools · grades 9 to 12
Blochman Union Elementary · Santa Maria
189 students · 21 students per teacher · 1 school · grades K to 12
Santa Barbara Unified · Santa Barbara
12,583 students · 19.1 students per teacher · 21 schools · grades K to 12
Lompoc Unified · Lompoc
9,061 students · 20.3 students per teacher · 16 schools · grades K to 12

NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For test results and programs, see each district's site and your state's school report card.

The facts behind it
Typical home value
$991,975
What a typical home sells for across the Santa Maria area.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index, August 2026
Average commute
21 minutes one way
How long residents' trips to work take on average, counting every job and way of getting there. U.S. average: about 27 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Homeowners insurance
About $1,616 a year
The statewide average for a typical policy in CA. Your own quote will depend on the home.
Source: Statewide estimate, 2026
Natural disaster risk
Relatively High
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Median household income
$95,977
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
0.66% of home value a year
About $660 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
Graduated, up to 13.30%
CA's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.
Source: 2026

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