2025 Compare Cities Education:
Payson, AZ vs Santa Maria, CA

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Highlights
- Santa Maria spends 29.6% more per student than Payson.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 16.8% higher in Santa Maria than in Payson. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Santa Maria had 32.9% fewer residents who had graduated High School compared to Payson
 Payson, AZSanta Maria, CAUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$16,705$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$11,337  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$7,862$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio17.99  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock123874573
 Students per Counselor787  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock27.8%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.5.8%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock62.2%88.9%
 Some College Educ.31.5%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock7.2%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.24.4%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock2.8%9.3%
 Professional Degree1.8%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock0.3%1.5%
Reviews for Payson    15 Reviews

We have lived in Payson for over 5 years and love it. It has two large grocery stores, a Walmart, Home Depot, a dozen thrift/ treasure shops, more local shops than we  More

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Over 6 years ago

Payson is a wonderful town especially for retired people and people that want a slower pace... Lots of outdoor activities  More

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Over 6 years ago

I've lived in Payson for 25 years, thank god I worked out of town. There is a saying GO TO PAYSON ON VACATION GO HOME ON PROBATION TURN IN THREE YOU GO  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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