CensusEasy
METRO AREA · 2020 ACS

Santa Maria Metro

Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA · 1 counties · 448,229 residents · 2,733.941 sq mi
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The short version

Santa Maria is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $78,925. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $610,300.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 35.7
US median: 38.8
Average education
35% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 54%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
448,229
+12%since 2000
from 399,347 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
164 / sq mi
+12%since 2000
from 146 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
35.7
+7%since 2000
from 33.4 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
362K385K409K433K456K1990201020202024Santa Maria
2024444K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$78,925
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $46,677 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$38,141
+65%since 2000
from $23,059 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
52.2%
+13.6 ptssince 2009
from 38.5% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
12.9%
−1.5 ptssince 2000
from 14.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information9.6%
US avg: 11.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing8.6%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction8.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Retail trade7.1%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade5.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services4.6%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance3.1%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical2.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Public administration2.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$610,300
+54%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $264,100 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,697
+36%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $830 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
52.4%
−3.7 ptssince 2000
from 56.1% in 2000
47.6% rent
Afford Score
7.7
+37%since 2000
from 5.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
2020
White, non-Hispanic41.2%(184,746)
Black1.4%(6,467)
Hispanic / Latino47%(210,584)
Asian5.7%(25,378)
Other3.3%(14,770)
Diversity Score74.2%(332,573)
Segregation Score43.2%(193,530)
Diversity Score
74
+12%since 2000
from 66 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
43
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
35.0%
+5.5 ptssince 2000
from 29.4% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
81.8%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 79.2% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
14.1%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 11.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.6 min
+53%since 2000
from 13.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
68.1%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 66.4% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
5.8%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.7%
−2.6 ptssince 2011
from 8.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
63.7%
−0.6 ptssince 2011
from 64.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
37.1%
−26.1 ptssince 2009
from 63.1% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
Female
50.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
Foreign born
22.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 22.2% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
9.9%
−71.7 ptssince 2013
from 81.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+23%
Home value$781,000+28%
Population433,729−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANTA MARIA VS
Vallejo
Income$100,401+27%
Home value$617,700+1%
Population455,376+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANTA MARIA VS
Manchester
Income$103,545+31%
Home value$421,100−31%
Population433,415−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANTA MARIA VS
Anchorage
Income$100,683+28%
Home value$382,042−37%
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 448,229 residents according to the 2020 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 $78,925 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 $610,300, and the typical rent is about $1,697 a month.

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

About 35.0% 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 12.9% 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 78,621 residents, a change of about 21 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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