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City Report · CA

Santa Maria

Pop. 110,462·257th most expensive in California·Rental market data updated monthly for Santa Maria, CA
Median rent (all units)
$2,520/mo
Year-over-Year
+4.4%
Month-over-Month
+3.6%
vs US Median
+$555
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Santa Maria · $2,520
More expensive than 80% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo
Affordability
36% of income
MODERATE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $2,520/mo, rent takes about 36% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$101,000/yr
Local median income
$84,746/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Santa Maria's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$2,257
1 BR
$2,560
2 BR
$2,890
3 BR
$3,843
4 BR+
$4,330
Research median
$2,890/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost
$30,240/yr
At $2,520/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 4.4% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+4.4% YoY, +3.6% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Santa Maria, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large share of families with children, 15.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
110,462
Median income
$84,746
Median age
29.3
Renters
49.8%
Age distribution
30.9%
26.7%
22.8%
Under 1830.9%
18–3426.7%
35–5422.8%
55–648.6%
65+11%
Gender
49.8%
50.2%
Male49.8%
Female50.2%
Race & ethnicity
24.9%
79.1%
White24.9%
Black0.9%
Hispanic79.1%
Asian4.3%
Education (25+)
37.5%
20.7%
26.2%
15.7%
No HS diploma37.5%
HS diploma20.7%
Some college26.2%
Bachelor's+15.7%
Housing tenure
50.2%
49.8%
Owner50.2%
Renter49.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Santa Maria, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent
$1,907 → $2,520
up 32.1%
Income
$73,300 → $84,746
up 15.6%
Population
109,309 → 110,462
up 1.1%
Renter share
49.1% → 49.8%
+0.7 pts
Bachelor's+
13.6% → 15.7%
+2.1 pts

Across the past five years, the going rent in Santa Maria, CA has shifted from $1,907 to $2,520, up 32.1% since 2021. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $73,300 in 2021 to $84,746 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Santa Maria, CA adding about 1,153 residents over the five-year window, up 1.1% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 13.6% to 15.7% across the same window. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Santa Maria, CA market of 2021.

Community

Discussions about Santa Maria

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View Santa Maria rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Santa Maria on your salary?

At $2,520/mo, how Santa Maria rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Santa Maria rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Santa Maria. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Santa Maria

About renting in Santa Maria, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Santa Maria is $2,520/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,257/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,890/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,560/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,843/mo.

At 36% of local median household income ($84,746/yr), Santa Maria ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Santa Maria an affordable city for renters?

Santa Maria is considered moderate for renters. At $2,520/mo, rent takes approximately 36% of the local median household income ($84,746/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Santa Maria slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Santa Maria?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $101,000/year (~$49/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,520/mo in Santa Maria. The local median household income is $84,746/yr, meaning the typical Santa Maria household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Santa Maria?

Rent in Santa Maria has increased 4.4% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Santa Maria neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Santa Maria are 93458 ($2,218/mo), 93454 ($2,277/mo), and 93455 ($3,131/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Santa Maria is $2,520/mo.

How does Santa Maria rent compare to other cities in California?

Santa Maria is middle-of-the-pack for California for rent, ranking #257 out of 387 tracked cities at $2,520/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Santa Maria?

Lompoc is nearby and more affordable at $2,254/mo, which is $266 less than Santa Maria.

What percentage of Santa Maria residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 49.8% of Santa Maria households are renters, while 50.2% are owner-occupied. Santa Maria leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Santa Maria rent compare to the national average?

Santa Maria's median rent of $2,520/mo is $555 (28%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #257 out of 387 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
36%
MODERATE

At $2,520/mo, rent takes ~36% of Santa Maria's median household income ($84,746/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Santa Maria 36%Benchmark 30%
State income tax1–13.3%
Run the Santa Maria affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Santa Maria
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Santa Maria, CA

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