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METRO AREA

Santa Maria Metro

Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA · 1 counties · 442,065 residents (2025 est.) · 2,733.941 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#10Highest median rentof 925$2,131#19Most expensive homesof 925$790,700#35Most foreign-born residentsof 92522.2%#36Highest median household incomeof 925$98,161
The short version

Santa Maria is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $98,161. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $790,700. At a median age of 34.6, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. It ranks in the top 1% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.6
US median: 38.9
Average education
37% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 64%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
443,701
+11%since 2000
from 399,347 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
162 / sq mi
+11%since 2000
from 146 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
34.6
+4%since 2000
from 33.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:442,065 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
362K385K409K433K456K1990201020202024Santa Maria
2024444K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$98,161
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $46,677 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$48,028
+108%since 2000
from $23,059 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
60.5%
+22.0 ptssince 2009
from 38.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
14.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2000
from 14.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.494
+4%since 2010
from 0.475 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information9.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing8.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction7.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Retail trade7.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade6.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services4.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration2.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$790,700
+64%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $264,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$2,131
+41%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $830 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
52.4%
−3.7 ptssince 2000
from 56.1% in 2000
47.6% rent
Vacancy rate
6.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
30.5%
−10.5 ptssince 2009
from 41.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
54.8%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 56.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
8.1
+42%since 2000
from 5.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
47
RELATED:See current rent listings in Santa Maria on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic56.9%(227,083)
Black2.1%(8,385)
Hispanic / Latino34.2%(136,668)
Asian3.9%(15,713)
Other0%
Diversity Score66.4%(265,027)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic40.6%(180,184)
Black1.5%(6,693)
Hispanic / Latino48.2%(213,992)
Asian5.2%(22,876)
Other4.5%(19,956)
Diversity Score74.7%(331,432)
Segregation Score41.7%(184,871)
Diversity Score
75
+13%since 2000
from 66 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
42
−3%since 2020
from 43 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
36.8%
+7.4 ptssince 2000
from 29.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
81.9%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 79.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
14.8%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 11.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.8 min
+55%since 2000
from 13.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
64.7%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 66.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.7%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 15.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
2.2%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
13.4%
+7.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.9%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
2.4%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.9%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.4%
−1.9 ptssince 2011
from 8.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
62.5%
−1.8 ptssince 2011
from 64.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 15.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
40.5%
−22.6 ptssince 2009
from 63.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
Female
49.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
Foreign born
22.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 22.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.6%
−45.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.3%
+0.9 ptssince 2012
from 10.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.7%
−72.9 ptssince 2013
from 81.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.5%
+10.2 ptssince 2017
from 82.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
59.5%
−0.8 ptssince 2016
from 60.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
33.4%
+0.8 ptssince 2016
from 32.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

Santa MariaCENTRAL111,390Santa BarbaraCENTRAL86,422
What's inside

1 component county

Santa Barbara CountyCENTRAL442,065
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Santa Maria

Salinas
Pop 433,729
Vallejo
Pop 455,376
Manchester
Pop 433,415
Anchorage
Pop 405,821
Places similar to Santa Maria
Head to head

Compare Santa Maria side by side

SANTA MARIA VS
Salinas
Income$97,230−1%
Home value$781,000−1%
Population433,729−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANTA MARIA VS
Vallejo
Income$100,401+2%
Home value$617,700−22%
Population455,376+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANTA MARIA VS
Manchester
Income$103,545+5%
Home value$421,100−47%
Population433,415−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANTA MARIA VS
Anchorage
Income$100,683+3%
Home value$382,042−52%
Population405,821−8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?

Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA has about 443,701 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?

The typical household in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA earns about $98,161 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA expensive?

In Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA, the median home is worth about $790,700, and the typical rent is about $2,131 a month.

How educated are people in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?

About 36.8% of adults age 25 and over in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?

About 14.7% of people in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA grown since 1990?

Yes, Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA has grown since 1990. The population has added about 74,093 residents, a change of about 20 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →