Lakewood, CO vs Santa Maria, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Lakewood
62.8
#1823 nationally
Santa Maria
63.3
#1783 nationally
Santa Maria leads in average commute (22.1 min vs 27 min). Santa Maria leads in walk score (52 vs 43). Santa Maria leads in crime level (18.1 vs 21.6).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 62.8 (#1823) | 63.3 (#1783) |
| Population | 155,961 | 109,987 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $565,359 | $668,983 |
| Median Household Income | $82,786 | $81,237 |
| Average Commute | 27 min | 22.1 min |
| Walk Score | 43 | 52 |
| Crime Level | 21.6 | 18.1 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 135 | 138 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+19.5 | D+26.7 |
D-
62.8 Score
Lakewood, CO
Mid-size Colorado city with community character
Median Home
$565,359
Population
155,961
Crime
High
Walk Score
43
West
View Lakewood, CO →
D
63.3 Score
Santa Maria, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$668,983
Population
109,987
Crime
High
Walk Score
52
Pacific
View Santa Maria, CA →
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