Santa Maria, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Santa Maria is a major urban center located in California, within Santa Barbara County. The total population is 110,462. It ranks as the 61st most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Santa Maria is 29.3 years. This is 23% lower than the state median of 37.9 years. With 30.9% of the population under 18, Santa Maria has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Santa Maria is $84,746. This is 15% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 5% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.3%. This is 44% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 7.3%. This is 10% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $531,700. Housing costs are 28% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.3x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 50.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% lower than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Santa Maria is Hispanic or Latino, making up 79.1% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 13.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (13.8%) is well below the state average of 33.8%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 5.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (79.1% vs 40.2%). The Asian population (4.2%) is well below the state average of 15.3%.

Education

15.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 58% lower than the state rate of 37.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 62.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Santa Maria, California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,570 Census-designated places in California. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.