2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Grass Valley, CA vs Santa Barbara, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Santa Barbara older or younger than people in Grass Valley?
- The Median Age in Santa Barbara is 7.9 years younger than in Grass Valley.

Are housing costs cheaper in Santa Barbara or Grass Valley?
- Santa Barbara housing costs are 206.7% more expensive than Grass Valley housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Santa Barbara or Grass Valley?
- The average commute for residents of Santa Barbara is 2.3 minutes longer than it is for residents of Grass Valley.

Things to do in Grass Valley?
Grass Valley is an independent township situated within Nevada County, California boasting plenty of activities like visiting its local museums like the Lake Spaulding Powerhouse suitable for anyone interested in the area's history plus nearby Empire Mine State Historic Park has various events and exhibits conveniently situated close by. There are also lots of shopping outlets and eateries providing unique items or delicious cuisine good for anyone looking to browse around or have a meal out during their visit here!

Things to do in Santa Barbara?
Santa Barbara, California has something for everyone - from fantastic beaches to world-class shopping and dining experiences. Visitors can explore Old Mission Santa Barbara or take part in various water activities around Stearns Wharf.

 Grass Valley, CASanta Barbara, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock89,132329,725,481
 Median Income$44,906  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock39.138.4
 Avg. Home Price$497,400  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.1%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time14.9  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Grass Valley    15 Reviews

I've lived many places in California. I've now lived in Grass Valley for 2 years. Grass Valley and it's sister Nevada City are adorable little towns full of history and  More

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Grass valley has become a sad place to live. I was born and raised here and can no longer afford to raise my small family here. Look up the median annual wage and the  More

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I'm 25 years old and I've lived in this town all of my life, and I'm saving every single dollar I make to leave here and never come back. It's a shame, because at one  More

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Reviews for Santa Barbara    51 Reviews

I moved to Santa Barbara around 23 years ago to study at Brooks, which like most of the Santa Barbara that I knew—has been destroyed. Homelessness, drugs, gangs, high  More

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Over 4 years ago

I fell in love with Santa Barbara about thirty years ago and finally moved here a few years ago. Because of the price of homes, it is an expensive place to live. The  More

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If you like high crime, paying a $4,500 a month mortgage and crazy high taxes, this is the place for you. It’s too bad because it wasn’t always like this. When I moved  More

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