2025 Compare Cities Economy:
San Luis Obispo, CA vs Santa Maria, CA

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Highlights
- Household income in Santa Maria, is 18% more than it is in San Luis Obispo and is 6% above the National Average.
- San Luis Obispo unemployment rate is 5.5%.
- Santa Maria unemployment rate is 11.6%.
 San Luis Obispo, CASanta Maria, CAUnited States
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock11.6%6.0%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock0.8%1.6%
 Future Job Growth34.6%  Unlock33.5%
 Sales Taxes7.8%  Unlock6.2%
 Income Taxes  Unlock8.0%4.6%
 Income per Cap.$39,464  Unlock$37,638
 Household Income  Unlock$73,300$69,021
 Family Median Income$106,936  Unlock$85,028
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 Est. Households By Income
 San Luis Obispo, CASanta Maria, CAUnited States
 Income Less Than 15K  Unlock6.5%9.4%
 Income between 15K and 20K6.6%  Unlock3.8%
 Income between 20K and 30K  Unlock6.7%8.1%
 Income between 30K and 40K6.5%  Unlock8.0%
 Income between 40K and 50K  Unlock8.1%7.6%
 Income between 50K and 60K6.3%  Unlock7.2%
 Income between 60K and 75K  Unlock10.2%9.6%
 Income between 75K and 100K9.3%  Unlock12.8%
 Income between 100K and 150K  Unlock18.2%16.3%
 Income between 150K and 200K6.5%  Unlock7.8%
 Income greater than 200K  Unlock5.4%9.5%
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 Population By Occupation
 San Luis Obispo, CASanta Maria, CAUnited States
 Management, business, finance16.1%  Unlock16.4%
 Engineering, computers, science  Unlock3.5%6.5%
 Community, social services2.0%  Unlock1.8%
 Legal  Unlock0.4%1.2%
 Education, library9.0%  Unlock6.2%
 Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment  Unlock1.4%2.0%
 Healthcare practitioners and technology4.9%  Unlock6.2%
 Healthcare support  Unlock5.1%3.3%
 Firefighters, law enforcement1.7%  Unlock2.1%
 Food preparation, serving  Unlock4.4%5.4%
 Building maintenance2.1%  Unlock3.6%
 Personal care  Unlock2.3%2.6%
 Sales, office, administrative support20.7%  Unlock20.9%
 Farming, fishing, forestry  Unlock20.7%0.6%
 Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair3.9%  Unlock8.1%
 Production, transportation, material moving  Unlock13.9%13.1%
Reviews for San Luis Obispo    21 Reviews

MY FIANCEE AND I ARE LOOKING TO MOVE TO SLO FOR RETIREMENT ( NEXT MONTH ) WE ARE BOTH ARTISTS AND HOPE OUR TALENT WILL HELP WITH COST OF LIVING IN SLO!!! ANY  More

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Over 10 years ago

In almost any season of the year in San Luis Obispo, you’ll find the sun shining and the temperature hitting around 70º at some point in the day. With the temperature  More

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San Luis Obispo and surrounding areas are beautiful, great weather, beaches, farms markets, a downtown area full of some of the best bars and restaurants, wine country,  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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