2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Santa Barbara, CA vs Bethesda, MD

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Highlights
Are people in Bethesda older or younger than people in Santa Barbara?
- The Median Age in Bethesda is 3.9 years older than in Santa Barbara.

Are housing costs cheaper in Bethesda or Santa Barbara?
- Bethesda housing costs are 29.7% less expensive than Santa Barbara housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Bethesda or Santa Barbara?
- The average commute for residents of Bethesda is 12.2 minutes longer than it is for residents of Santa Barbara.

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.

Things to do in Bethesda?
Bethesda, Maryland is an incredible city located just northwest of Washington D.C. This beautiful city offers plenty for visitors to explore such as the stunning Glen Echo Park or the charming Cabin John Regional Park. Residents here also take advantage of all the outdoor activities available at Acorn Urban Park, Little Falls Creek Stream Valley, and Capital Crescent Trail. With its excellent school systems, thriving businesses, and numerous recreational opportunities, it's no wonder why so many people choose to make Bethesda their home.

 Santa Barbara, CABethesda, MDUnited States
 Population  Unlock66,294329,725,481
 Median Income$89,243  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock4338.4
 Avg. Home Price$1,525,500  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock5.7%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time17.15  Unlock26.38
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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Reviews for Bethesda    12 Reviews

Bethesda is awesome if you want to live near DC and in a relatively safe city that has few parking issues. Montgomery county has parking lots in downtown Bethesda and  More

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Amenities are plentiful, but costs continue to rise as do local and state taxes. Overall not a friendly place to  More

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Essentially an upscale suburb of Washington DC. Public transport is easy, there's plenty to do (though with none of the edginess of living closer in DC) and it's minutes  More

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