CensusEasy
METRO AREA · 2000 CENSUS

Santa Maria Metro

Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA · 1 counties · 399,347 residents · 2,733.941 sq mi
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The short version

Santa Maria has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $46,677. Population has held roughly steady since 1990. Median home value is $264,100.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 33.4
US median: 35.2
More educated
29% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
More affordable
home values down 20%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
399,347
+8%since 1990
from 369,608 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Population density
146 / sq mi
+8%since 1990
from 135 / sq mi in 1990
US average: 242
Median age
33.4
+5%since 1990
from 31.8 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
362K385K409K433K456K1990201020202024Santa Maria
2024444K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$46,677
−1%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $35,677 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,059
+34%since 1990
from $17,155 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
14.3%
+1.6 ptssince 1990
from 12.8% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$264,100
−20%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $249,200 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$830
−4%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $654 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
56.1%
+1.3 ptssince 1990
from 54.7% in 1990
43.9% rent
Afford Score
5.7
−19%since 1990
from 7.0 in 1990
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Santa Maria on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic77.2%(285,411)
Black2.7%(10,162)
Hispanic / Latino26.3%(97,084)
Asian4.5%(16,554)
Diversity Score70.7%(261,412)
2000
White, non-Hispanic56.9%(227,083)
Black2.1%(8,385)
Hispanic / Latino34.2%(136,668)
Asian3.9%(15,713)
Diversity Score66.4%(265,027)
Diversity Score
66
−6%since 1990
from 71 in 1990
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
29.4%
+2.8 ptssince 1990
from 26.6% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
79.2%
−0.8 ptssince 1990
from 80.0% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
11.4%
+1.4 ptssince 1990
from 10.0% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
13.5 min
−26%since 1990
from 18.2 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

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+108%
Home value$781,000+196%
Population433,729−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANTA MARIA VS
Vallejo
Income$100,401+115%
Home value$617,700+134%
Population455,376+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANTA MARIA VS
Manchester
Income$103,545+122%
Home value$421,100+59%
Population433,415−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANTA MARIA VS
Anchorage
Income$100,683+116%
Home value$382,042+45%
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 399,347 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA earns about $46,677 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 $264,100, and the typical rent is about $830 a month.

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

About 29.4% 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 14.3% 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 29,739 residents, a change of about 8 percent over that period.

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

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