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City · 110,462 residents · Santa Barbara County, California

Santa Maria , California

In Santa Maria, a typical home is worth $531,700 and typical rent is $1,925 a month. Compared with all of Santa Barbara County, the typical home value is 33% lower and typical household income is 14% lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $531,700

    33% below the county

    28% below California

    • Santa Maria
    • Santa Barbara
    • California

  • Typical rent

    $1,925a month

    10% below the county

    5% below California

    • Santa Maria
    • Santa Barbara
    • California

  • Typical household income

    $84,746a year

    14% below the county

    15% below California

    • Santa Maria
    • Santa Barbara
    • California

  • Households that own their home

    50%

    2 points below the county

    6 points below California

    • Santa Maria
    • Santa Barbara
    • California

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$665,485
4% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$2,509 a month
0.8% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Santa Maria is in Santa Barbara County. The FHA loan limit ($941,850 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Santa Barbara County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Santa Maria apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. The typical home in Santa Maria is worth $531,700, 33% less than in Santa Barbara County as a whole ($790,700).

  2. Nearby, in Oceano, the typical rent is $1,584: 18% less than in Santa Maria ($1,925).

  3. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Santa Maria rose 4%; in California, it rose 0.6%.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Santa Maria

What homes there are in Santa Maria, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Detached houses, standing on their own, make up 60% of homes here, against 56% in Santa Barbara County.

Year built

The typical home in Santa Maria was built in 1982, 8 years after the typical one in Santa Barbara County.

Homes in Santa Maria are bigger: 59% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Santa Barbara County, 55%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

The FHA loan limit for Santa Barbara County is $941,850, and about 97% of owner-occupied homes in Santa Maria are worth less than that.

Monthly rent with utilities

With a HUD fair market rent of $3,106 for 2 bedrooms, at least 91% of rented homes in Santa Maria sit below it.

With a mortgage

$2,331 a month

Santa Barbara County: $2,973 a month

Without a mortgage

$609 a month

Santa Barbara County: $831 a month

Owners with a mortgage

68%

Santa Barbara County: 63%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Santa Maria is $2,331 a month, less than in Santa Barbara County ($2,973); without one, $609.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Santa Maria rose 55% since 2015–2019, more than in Santa Barbara County (37%).

Rents in Santa Maria rose faster than in Santa Barbara County: 36% since 2015–2019, against 30%.

While home values in Santa Maria changed +55% and rent +36%, the typical household income rose 34%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureSanta MariaSanta Barbara CountyCaliforniaUnited States
Rental vacancy 3.1%3.3%4.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.6%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room 19.8%9.7%8.2%3.4%
People per household 3.702.812.842.53
Drive alone 71%65%66%69%
Carpool 19%12%10%9%
Public transit 2%2%3%3%
Walk or bike 2%6%3%3%
Work from home 5%13%17%15%
Other means 2%2%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Santa Barbara County, the rental vacancy rate in Santa Maria is 3.1%.

In Santa Maria, 19.8% of households live with more than one person per room, against 9.7% in Santa Barbara County.

Households in Santa Maria are bigger: 3.70 people on average; in Santa Barbara County, 2.81.

More people carpool to work in Santa Maria than in Santa Barbara County: 19% against 12%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Santa Maria?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Santa Maria, worth $531,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 61% of the typical household income in Santa Maria, which is $84,746 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $183,488 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Santa Barbara County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Santa Maria. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $18,610 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$4,281

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$522,069
Total interest
$751,135
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $8,979 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,977 a month

  • Tight

    $1,977 to $2,542 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,542 a month

    Your payment · 61%

Compared with the typical household income in Santa Maria ($84,746 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$4,281
Principal & interest$3,537
Property tax$288
Home insurance$222
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$235

You need at least $18,610 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Santa Maria and Santa Barbara County

Santa Maria is in Santa Barbara County, California. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Santa Maria's own numbers

Typical home value
$531,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,925
Typical yearly household income
$84,746
Households that own their home
50%
Effective property tax rate
0.65%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Santa Barbara County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$941,850
Conventional limit, one unit
$941,850
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$3,106
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+56%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
3.6%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Santa Barbara County.

Everything about Santa Barbara County

Buying

Buying a home in Santa Maria

A typical home in Santa Maria is worth $531,700: 33% below the county and 28% below California. With the typical household income in Santa Maria ($84,746 a year), a typical home costs 6.3 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Santa Maria 6.3 years
  • Santa Barbara 8.1 years
  • California 7.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Santa Barbara County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Santa Barbara County rose 88% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Santa Barbara County.

Period County California U.S.
Last year (2025) +3.3% +0.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +56% +40% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +88% +80% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Santa Maria next to Santa Barbara County, California and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Santa Maria $531,700
  • Santa Barbara $790,700
  • California $734,700
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Santa Maria $1,925
  • Santa Barbara $2,131
  • California $2,036
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Santa Maria $84,746
  • Santa Barbara $98,161
  • California $99,122
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Santa Maria next to Santa Barbara County and California
Measure Santa Maria Santa Barbara County California U.S.
Typical home value $531,700 $790,700 $734,700 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,925 $2,131 $2,036 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $84,746 $98,161 $99,122 $80,734
Households that own their home 50% 52% 56% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,435 $5,103 $5,124 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.65% 0.65% 0.7% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 61% 58% 55% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Santa Barbara County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Santa Maria

For a typical $531,700 home in Santa Maria, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Santa Maria's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $4,281a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $18,610
    Cash to close
    $34,561
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $235

  • Conventional, 5% down $4,184a month

    Down payment
    $26,585
    Cash to close
    $42,536
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $253

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $3,391a month

    Down payment
    $106,340
    Cash to close
    $122,291
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $3,883a month

    Down payment
    $79,755
    Cash to close
    $95,706
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Santa Maria and for Santa Barbara County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Santa Maria

0.65%of the home’s value each year

$3,435 a year for the typical owner in Santa Maria.

  • Santa Maria 0.65%
  • Santa Barbara 0.65%
  • California 0.7%

What California publishes Homeowners' exemption (California State Board of Equalization (BOE))

Exemptions and deadlines in California

Flood risk in Santa Barbara County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Santa Barbara County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
3.6%
4,422
Of those, with NFIP insurance
27%
County California U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 3.6% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 27% 31% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Santa Maria

Typical rent in Santa Maria is $1,925 a month: 10% below the county. In Santa Maria, 61% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Santa Barbara County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($3,106 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $59.73 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Santa Barbara County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $2,479 $47.67 $99,160
1 bedroom $2,711 $52.13 $108,440
2 bedrooms $3,106 $59.73 $124,240
3 bedrooms $3,990 $76.73 $159,600
4 bedrooms $4,557 $87.63 $182,280

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Santa Maria

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Santa Maria has 3 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $2,820 in 93454 to $3,410 in 93455.

1 of the 3 is above the fair market rent for Santa Barbara County ($3,106).

  • 93454 $2,820$3,670
  • 93455 $3,410$4,380
  • 93458 $2,890$3,710

3 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Santa Maria when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Santa Maria

HUD lists 17 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Santa Maria. These are the largest.

  • The Vizcaya Apts 1720 S Depot St, Santa Maria 93458 236 homes, 234 low-income · 1 bd: 24 · 2 bd: 112 · 3 bd: 80 · 4 bd: 20 · In service since 2007 · For families
  • Westgate Courtyards 1240 Bethel Ln, Santa Maria 93458 204 homes, 203 low-income · 2 bd: 102 · 3 bd: 102 · In service since 2003 · For families
  • Union Plaza 120 N Broadway, Santa Maria 93454 122 low-income homes · For older adults (805) 922-5226
  • Central Plaza Apts 200 N McClelland St, Santa Maria 93454 112 homes, 111 low-income · 1 bd: 40 · 2 bd: 56 · 3 bd: 16 · In service since 2005 · For families
  • Rancho Gardens Apts I 1414 N Broadway, Santa Maria 93454 104 homes, 101 low-income · Studio: 104 · In service since 1999 · For older adults

See all 85 buildings in Santa Barbara County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Santa Maria

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Santa Barbara County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A grandmother pushes her grandson on a playground swing.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Santa Maria

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Santa Maria or Santa Barbara County. The ones below are statewide in California: they work in Santa Maria the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in California

  • MyHome Assistance Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers in California. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan

    Statewide in California

    Closed, per the source

    CalHFA down payment loan for first-generation buyers in California; when you sell, you repay the loan plus a share of the home's appreciation. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Shared appreciation

    See the program Official page

  • MyAccess Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers who use the CalPLUS Access mortgage (FHA or conventional). Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Santa Maria

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Santa Maria, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • My Way Home

    2231 Sturgis Rd Unit A, Oxnard · 89 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 9 more
    (805) 273-7800

  • Centro Familia Esperanza

    1720 E Los Angeles Ave Ste 216, Simi Valley · 106 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (805) 813-8751

  • Self Help Enterprises

    8445 W Elowin Ct, Visalia · 114 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 3 more
    (559) 802-1664

All counseling agencies in California

Help in Spanish near Santa Maria

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Santa Maria

HUD’s record names them for Santa Maria or Santa Barbara County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (805) 736-3423

One other authority has an office in Santa Barbara County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Santa Barbara County

These cities are also in Santa Barbara County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Santa Barbara County Housing in California
See 1 more city in Santa Barbara County, with its price and rent

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Santa Maria, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Santa Barbara County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Santa Maria.

All guides
Three women of one family talk as they cook vegetables in the kitchen.

Questions

Housing questions about Santa Maria

Short answers with the numbers for Santa Maria and all of Santa Barbara County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Santa Maria?

The typical home value in Santa Maria is $531,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Santa Barbara County it is $790,700.

How much does it cost to rent in Santa Maria?

Typical rent in Santa Maria is $1,925 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Santa Barbara County is $3,106.

What is the FHA loan limit in Santa Maria?

Santa Maria uses the FHA limit for all of Santa Barbara County (2026): $941,850 for a one-unit home and $1,811,300 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Santa Maria?

The typical homeowner in Santa Maria pays $3,435 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.65% of the home’s value; in Santa Barbara County, the rate is 0.65%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Santa Maria?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Santa Barbara County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).