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CITY

Santa Maria

California · 111,390 residents (2025 est.) · 22.81 sq mi
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#328Youngest by median ageof 6,82629.3
The short version

Santa Maria has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $84,746. Population has grown 43% since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $531,700. At a median age of 29.3, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Despite a median home value of $531,700, the poverty rate sits 39% above the US average — a pattern often seen in resort and college towns.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 29.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 108%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
110,462
+43%since 2000
from 77,423 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
4,843 / sq mi
+29%since 2009
from 3,750 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
29.3
Unchangedsince 2000
from 29.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:111,390 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
56K71K86K101K115K1990201020202024Santa Maria
2024110K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 58.7%(9,646)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.6%(8,387)
US avg: 6%
10 to 149%(9,913)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 199.4%(10,358)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 249.2%(10,173)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3413.7%(15,163)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.3%(13,633)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.4%(11,516)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 648.6%(9,518)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 746.5%(7,145)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 842.9%(3,241)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.6%(1,769)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$84,746
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,541 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,440
+99%since 2000
from $13,780 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
54.3%
+27.5 ptssince 2009
from 26.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
17.3%
−2.4 ptssince 2000
from 19.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.421
+1%since 2010
from 0.417 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing22.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction22.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Information10.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade7.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade7.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services2.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration1.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$531,700
+108%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $140,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,925
+57%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $675 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
50.2%
−5.7 ptssince 2000
from 55.9% in 2000
49.8% rent
Vacancy rate
3.2%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
28.4%
−16.6 ptssince 2009
from 45.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
58.9%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 57.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
6.3
−20%since 2009
from 7.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
51
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Santa Maria on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic32%(24,742)
Black1.6%(1,246)
Hispanic / Latino59.7%(46,196)
Asian4.4%(3,406)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic13.8%(15,293)
Black0.8%(874)
Hispanic / Latino79.1%(87,357)
Asian4.2%(4,651)
Other2.1%(2,287)
Diversity Score
44
−27%since 2009
from 60 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican75.1%(82,902)
Central American1.6%(1,769)
Salvadoran1.1%(1,262)
Colombian0.5%(551)
Honduran0.3%(335)
Puerto Rican0.3%(278)
Venezuelan0.2%(173)
Chilean0.2%(169)
Guatemalan0.1%(135)
Spaniard0.1%(109)
Cuban0.1%(93)
+ 5 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Filipino2.8%(3,078)
Vietnamese0.5%(603)
Chinese0.2%(228)
Cambodian0.1%(163)
Japanese0.1%(118)
Laotian0.1%(109)
Taiwanese0.1%(83)
Asian Indian0.1%(65)
Korean0%(47)
Thai0%(5)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.1%(148)
Chamorro0%(14)
Ancestry
German3.1%(3,445)
Irish2.6%(2,862)
English2.6%(2,822)
American2%(2,197)
Italian0.9%(1,027)
French0.7%(757)
Scottish0.7%(731)
Norwegian0.6%(660)
Portuguese0.5%(565)
Polish0.4%(493)
Swedish0.4%(400)
Dutch0.3%(294)
+ 26 more ancestry groups with data
Scotch-Irish0.2%(256)
Arab0.2%(208)
Danish0.1%(158)
Canadian0.1%(154)
British0.1%(143)
Swiss0.1%(131)
Welsh0.1%(111)
Syrian0.1%(93)
Greek0.1%(76)
Finnish0.1%(61)
Croatian0%(52)
Egyptian0%(47)
Iraqi0%(47)
Russian0%(42)
Iranian0%(29)
Romanian0%(26)
Slovak0%(24)
Belgian0%(17)
Armenian0%(12)
Turkish0%(5)
Czech0%(4)
Latvian0%(4)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest German population · Largest Filipino population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.7%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 11.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
62.5%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 61.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.2%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 3.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.4 min
+61%since 2000
from 13.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
71.3%
+5.1 ptssince 2009
from 66.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
18.8%
−7.0 ptssince 2009
from 25.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.8%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.7%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.3%
−3.1 ptssince 2011
from 10.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.1%
+1.3 ptssince 2011
from 64.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.3%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
22.9%
−28.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.8%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Female
50.2%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Foreign born
33.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 33.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.7%
−46.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2012
from 11.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
14.9%
−57.3 ptssince 2013
from 72.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.8%
+17.0 ptssince 2017
from 72.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
32.9%
−2.5 ptssince 2016
from 35.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
60.9%
+2.4 ptssince 2016
from 58.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married46.4%(18,861)
Married46%(18,691)
Widowed1.6%(658)
Divorced5.9%(2,401)
Women 15+
Never married41.3%(17,310)
Married42.2%(17,698)
Widowed7.9%(3,295)
Divorced8.6%(3,602)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Santa Maria, California?

Santa Maria, California has about 110,462 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Santa Maria, California?

The typical household in Santa Maria, California earns about $84,746 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Santa Maria, California expensive?

In Santa Maria, California, the median home is worth about $531,700, and the typical rent is about $1,925 a month.

How educated are people in Santa Maria, California?

About 15.7% of adults age 25 and over in Santa Maria, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Santa Maria, California?

About 17.3% of people in Santa Maria, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Santa Maria, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Santa Maria, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 49,178 residents, a change of about 80 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →