Riverside or Santa Maria: which is better?
US metro area: head-to-head comparison
Santa Maria wins on more indicators: 6 of 12 against 3.
- Money: Riverside 3:1
- Climate and risks: Santa Maria 0:5
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
Riverside
Indicator
Santa Maria
Money
Better: Riverside (3 : 1)Per capita income
higher is better
✗$55,278
202437% lower
✓$88,347
202460% higher
Typical rent
lower is better
✓$2,533
2026-09-3023% lower
✗$3,279
2026-09-3029% higher
Typical home value
lower is better
✓$580,321
2026-09-3041% lower
✗$988,948
2026-09-3070% higher
Price level
lower is better
✓106.4 100 = US average
20242% lower
✗108.8 100 = US average
20242% higher
Climate and risks
Better: Santa Maria (0 : 5)Air: median AQI
lower is better
✗97 AQI
202498% higher
✓49 AQI
202449% lower
Days with unhealthy air
lower is better
✗164 days per year
20248100% higher
✓2 days per year
202499% lower
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✗137 days per year
2016-2025843% higher
✓15 days per year
2016-202589% lower
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
tie
0 days per year
2016-2025
0 days per year
2016-2025
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
tie
0.0 days per year
2016-2025
0.0 days per year
2016-2025
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
0 days per year
2016-2025
0 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
632 °C·days per year
2016-2025
1,214 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,218 °C·days per year
2016-2025
120 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
24 days per year
2016-2025
34 days per year
2016-2025
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
235 mm per year
2016-2025
336 mm per year
2016-2025
Daylight on December 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
9.8 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
9.8 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Daylight on June 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
14.5 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
14.5 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Air humidity
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
57 %
2021-2025
78 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
tie
0 days per year
2021-2025
0 days per year
2021-2025
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
58 km
2006-2025
20 km
2006-2025
Earthquakes M4.5+ within 100 km
lower is better
✗0.35 per year
2006-2025600% higher
✓0.05 per year
2006-202586% lower
Strongest earthquake in the period
lower is better
✗5.4 magnitude
2006-202513% higher
✓4.8 magnitude
2006-202512% lower
Urban environment
no winnerPopulation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
4,744,214 people
2024
444,500 people
2024
A winner is named only for indicators with a known “better / worse” direction. Population and other neutral indicators are shown without a winner. Outdated and missing values are not counted. Details for each place: Riverside, Santa Maria.