2025 Compare Cities Education:
Santa Maria, CA vs Santa Barbara, CA

Change Cities
Highlights
- Santa Barbara spends 0.0% less per student than Santa Maria.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 0.0% lower in Santa Barbara than in Santa Maria. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Santa Barbara had 41.4% more residents who had graduated High School compared to Santa Maria
 Santa Maria, CASanta Barbara, CAUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$16,705$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$13,158  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$7,862$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio21.01  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock123874573
 Students per Counselor539  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock7.2%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.10.0%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock88.0%88.9%
 Some College Educ.20.4%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock7.2%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.13.6%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock12.6%9.3%
 Professional Degree0.8%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock3.5%1.5%
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 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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Santa Barbara


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.