2025 Compare Cities Education:
Surprise, AZ vs Santa Maria, CA

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Highlights
- Santa Maria spends 58.1% more per student than Surprise.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 15.2% higher in Santa Maria than in Surprise. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Santa Maria had 33.5% fewer residents who had graduated High School compared to Surprise
 Surprise, AZSanta Maria, CAUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$16,705$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$8,653  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$7,862$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio18.24  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock123874573
 Students per Counselor718  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock27.8%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.4.8%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock62.2%88.9%
 Some College Educ.26.9%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock7.2%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.30.6%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock2.8%9.3%
 Professional Degree1.4%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock0.3%1.5%
Reviews for Surprise    52 Reviews

I have lived in Surprise, Az. For the past 21 years. One of the best cities to live in Az. From the police department to maintaining the streets & freeways. One thing I  More

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I am an Arizona native - 55 years - and have lived in Surprise since 2003. I wouldn't live anywhere else! I have watched this place grow and prosper. It is very family  More

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Over 11 years ago

The city of surprise is a beautiful place. It would not be a good place to live however. They have a young eager police force. You are taking a BIG risk driving  More

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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

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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

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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

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