2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Santa Barbara, CA vs Morro Bay, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Morro Bay older or younger than people in Santa Barbara?
- The Median Age in Morro Bay is 12.2 years older than in Santa Barbara.

Are housing costs cheaper in Morro Bay or Santa Barbara?
- Morro Bay housing costs are 40.6% less expensive than Santa Barbara housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Morro Bay or Santa Barbara?
- The average commute for residents of Morro Bay is 4.7 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 Morro Bay?
Morro Bay, CA is located in San Luis Obispo county boasting a population close to 10,400 people. Here you can find attractions like Morro Strand State Beach which features various monuments perfect for history buffs while also taking part in various festivals like the Annual Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival showcasing some of the area's best talent throughout the year!

 Santa Barbara, CAMorro Bay, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock10,785329,725,481
 Median Income$89,243  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock51.338.4
 Avg. Home Price$1,525,500  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock5.8%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 Morro Bay    2 Reviews

Over 12 years ago

Morro Bay is mostly a small,quiet,working fishing and retirement community.It is located approximately 12 miles north of San Luis Obispo,Ca.The weather here is mild most  More

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Beautiful area, right on the ocean, cool huge rock in the water. I love the small, walkable community and the farmers market is awesome. The temperature is always  More

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