2025 Compare Cities Economy:
Santa Maria, CA vs Mesa, AZ

Change Cities
Highlights
- Household income in Mesa, is 10% less than it is in Santa Maria and is 5% below the National Average.
- Santa Maria unemployment rate is 11.6%.
- Mesa unemployment rate is 6.1%.
 Santa Maria, CAMesa, AZUnited States
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock6.1%6.0%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock3.3%1.6%
 Future Job Growth24.9%  Unlock33.5%
 Sales Taxes8.0%  Unlock6.2%
 Income Taxes  Unlock3.4%4.6%
 Income per Cap.$23,537  Unlock$37,638
 Household Income  Unlock$65,725$69,021
 Family Median Income$70,973  Unlock$85,028
 space
 Est. Households By Income
 Santa Maria, CAMesa, AZUnited States
 Income Less Than 15K  Unlock7.6%9.4%
 Income between 15K and 20K3.3%  Unlock3.8%
 Income between 20K and 30K  Unlock7.7%8.1%
 Income between 30K and 40K8.7%  Unlock8.0%
 Income between 40K and 50K  Unlock8.7%7.6%
 Income between 50K and 60K8.1%  Unlock7.2%
 Income between 60K and 75K  Unlock10.6%9.6%
 Income between 75K and 100K17.4%  Unlock12.8%
 Income between 100K and 150K  Unlock17.1%16.3%
 Income between 150K and 200K7.5%  Unlock7.8%
 Income greater than 200K  Unlock6.2%9.5%
 space1
 Population By Occupation
 Santa Maria, CAMesa, AZUnited States
 Management, business, finance8.5%  Unlock16.4%
 Engineering, computers, science  Unlock6.6%6.5%
 Community, social services1.3%  Unlock1.8%
 Legal  Unlock0.7%1.2%
 Education, library3.5%  Unlock6.2%
 Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment  Unlock1.8%2.0%
 Healthcare practitioners and technology2.5%  Unlock6.2%
 Healthcare support  Unlock3.1%3.3%
 Firefighters, law enforcement1.8%  Unlock2.1%
 Food preparation, serving  Unlock5.7%5.4%
 Building maintenance5.0%  Unlock3.6%
 Personal care  Unlock2.6%2.6%
 Sales, office, administrative support17.2%  Unlock20.9%
 Farming, fishing, forestry  Unlock0.2%0.6%
 Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair8.5%  Unlock8.1%
 Production, transportation, material moving  Unlock10.9%13.1%
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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Santa Maria

Reviews for Mesa    61 Reviews

Mesa is a really good city despite some trouble with Superstition Springs and the failure that is Fiesta Mall, there is nice areas throughout and some areas that need to  More

   |    Reply

Over 2 years ago

As someone who was born in Mesa and has lived here in the 85210 in Dobson Ranch for the last 13 years after moving out from Chandler. I can tell you that most of the  More

   |    Reply

I’m a native to Arizona and growing up here has taught me that people just don’t care, and the Mormon community is huge! It’s normal in the state of AZ for kids to start  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Mesa


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.