2025 Compare Cities Education:
Chicago, IL vs Santa Maria, CA

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Highlights
- Santa Maria spends 23.7% less per student than Chicago.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 50.4% higher in Santa Maria than in Chicago. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Santa Maria had 27.9% fewer residents who had graduated High School compared to Chicago
 Chicago, ILSanta Maria, CAUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$16,705$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$18,508  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$7,862$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio13.97  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock123874573
 Students per Counselor481  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock27.8%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.6.8%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock62.2%88.9%
 Some College Educ.17.0%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock7.2%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.41.7%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock2.8%9.3%
 Professional Degree3.6%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock0.3%1.5%
Reviews for Chicago    270 Reviews

I've lived in Chicago city and later moved to suburbs when family size increased. Absolutely love this city. This is the cleanest and most beautiful among the major  More

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Chicago is probably the best value in a major city that you can find and my personal favorite city. It will become increasingly important as climate change makes the  More

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I've live on north side and south side, UIC medical center. Don't move here go to the north side. No good amenities, if you get bored with one there is no other choices.  More

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Reviews for Santa Maria    12 Reviews

Over 6 years ago

I live in Orcutt which is a town of around 35,000 on the south side of Santa Maria. Santa Maria has, as everyone has noted, the best climate in the world. It never  More

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I have lived in Santa Maria / Orcutt for several years, but it is time to leave. I have no issues with the weather. Our climate is mild and comfortable with no extremes.  More

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The weather is very mild without a huge temperature change with the seasons. The winters are chilly but not cold and the summers are warm but not hot. Of course there  More

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