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

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

Are housing costs cheaper in Grass Valley or Santa Barbara?
- Grass Valley housing costs are 67.4% less expensive than Santa Barbara housing costs.

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

 Santa Barbara, CAGrass Valley, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock13,550329,725,481
 Median Income$89,243  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock4738.4
 Avg. Home Price$1,525,500  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock6.1%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 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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