Cost of Living in Santa Maria, California
Santa Maria has a population of about 110,462. The median household income is $84,746, median gross rent is $1,925/month, and the median home value is $531,700. These figures come from 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year estimates, the latest full-coverage Census baseline for U.S. cities.
How current is this? Census city data is released with a lag because it is survey-based and designed for consistent coverage across small and large places. Use it as an official affordability baseline; current apartment listings and mortgage rates may differ.
Is Santa Maria expensive to live in?
Compared with the national median in this dataset, rent in Santa Maria is 16% above the national median and home values are 42% above the national median. Household income here is about the national median. Monthly rent represents roughly 27% of the median annual household income, a rough affordability signal for renters.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Santa Maria?
The median gross rent in Santa Maria, California is $1,925 per month in the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year estimates.
What is the median home price in Santa Maria?
The median owner-occupied home value in Santa Maria is $531,700 in the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year estimates.
How much do people earn in Santa Maria?
The median household income in Santa Maria is $84,746 per year in the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year estimates.
Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. Local database last refreshed 2026-07-11.