2025 Compare Cities Economy:
Palm Desert, CA vs Santa Maria, CA

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Highlights
- Household income in Santa Maria, is 9% more than it is in Palm Desert and is 6% above the National Average.
- Palm Desert unemployment rate is 6.0%.
- Santa Maria unemployment rate is 11.6%.
 Palm Desert, CASanta Maria, CAUnited States
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock11.6%6.0%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock0.8%1.6%
 Future Job Growth37.9%  Unlock33.5%
 Sales Taxes7.8%  Unlock6.2%
 Income Taxes  Unlock8.0%4.6%
 Income per Cap.$50,320  Unlock$37,638
 Household Income  Unlock$73,300$69,021
 Family Median Income$83,578  Unlock$85,028
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 Est. Households By Income
 Palm Desert, CASanta Maria, CAUnited States
 Income Less Than 15K  Unlock6.5%9.4%
 Income between 15K and 20K3.8%  Unlock3.8%
 Income between 20K and 30K  Unlock6.7%8.1%
 Income between 30K and 40K9.0%  Unlock8.0%
 Income between 40K and 50K  Unlock8.1%7.6%
 Income between 50K and 60K5.7%  Unlock7.2%
 Income between 60K and 75K  Unlock10.2%9.6%
 Income between 75K and 100K10.5%  Unlock12.8%
 Income between 100K and 150K  Unlock18.2%16.3%
 Income between 150K and 200K8.9%  Unlock7.8%
 Income greater than 200K  Unlock5.4%9.5%
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 Population By Occupation
 Palm Desert, CASanta Maria, CAUnited States
 Management, business, finance19.7%  Unlock16.4%
 Engineering, computers, science  Unlock3.5%6.5%
 Community, social services1.5%  Unlock1.8%
 Legal  Unlock0.4%1.2%
 Education, library6.0%  Unlock6.2%
 Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment  Unlock1.4%2.0%
 Healthcare practitioners and technology6.4%  Unlock6.2%
 Healthcare support  Unlock5.1%3.3%
 Firefighters, law enforcement1.5%  Unlock2.1%
 Food preparation, serving  Unlock4.4%5.4%
 Building maintenance4.3%  Unlock3.6%
 Personal care  Unlock2.3%2.6%
 Sales, office, administrative support25.7%  Unlock20.9%
 Farming, fishing, forestry  Unlock20.7%0.6%
 Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair5.4%  Unlock8.1%
 Production, transportation, material moving  Unlock13.9%13.1%
Reviews for Palm Desert    14 Reviews

Over 4 years ago

Palm Desert, CA is full of rude people. One woman in a long sleeved pink shirt is being extremely rude and mocking people for no reason at a neighborhood Walmart in Palm  More

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Palm Desert is clean, upscale and beautiful. The views of the Santa Rosa Mountains bright blue sky and green expanses of golf course fairways, swimming pools and  More

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I made the mistake of moving here after a short vacation to be closer to family. Biggest mistake of my life! This is not the place to live if health is important to you.  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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