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Attachment A
Santa Maria, California
Community Level: City
Location: California > Santa Barbara County
Population: 105,528
2023 average city score
48 232023 lowest
city score
73 2023 highest
city score
0 100
54 The overall
livability
index score
for Santa
Maria,
California is
54. This is in the
top half of
communities
in the U.S.
Surprised by the score? Issues surrounding livable communities are complex and interconnected.
Learn more about our methodology and the key factors of livability Category Scores
These are the category scores for Santa Maria, California. Explore the metrics and policies behind thenumbers. 0 10053
Key: Getting
Better
No
Change
Getting
Worse
Imputed
Data
Performance: T op Third of
Communities
Middle
Third
Bottom
Third
Housing
Affordability and Access
Indicators: Metrics2015
Value Change2023 Value
& MeasureT ertile
2023
Median US
City
Zero-step entrances 62.0% of
units 53.8%
Availability of multi-
family housing
33.9% of
units are
multi-family
35.7% of
units are
multi-family
8.7%
Housing costs $1,364 per
month
$1,534 per
month $803
Housing cost burden
22.6% of
income spent
on housing
18.4% of
income spent
on housing
12.8%
Availability of
subsidized housing
123.3 units
per 10,000
people
0.8 Indicators: Policies Is there a policy here?
State and local inclusive design laws
State and local laws that make housing accessible for people of allNo Policy abilities
State and local housing trust funds
State and local funds that support the development and
preservation of affordable housing
County Policy
State manufactured housing protections
State laws guaranteeing notice and/or first right of purchase to residents of manufactured housing communities prior to sale No Policy
State foreclosure prevention and protection
State policies and programs that protect homeowners from losing their homes to foreclosure
No Policy
State accessory dwelling unit support
State laws that facilitate the creation of local accessory dwelling units.
State Policy
State and local plans to create age-friendly communities Communities that have taken comprehensive steps to prepare for the aging of the U.S. population
State Policy
0 10061
Key: Getting
Better
No
Change
Getting
Worse
Imputed
Data
Performance: T op Third of
Communities
Middle
Third
Bottom
Third
Neighborhood
Proximity and Security
Indicators: Metrics2015
Value Change2023 Value
& MeasureT ertile
2023
Median US
City
Access to grocery
stores and farmers
markets
2.8 stores
and markets 0.0
Access to parks 1.8 parks 0.0
Access to libraries 0.1 libraries 0.1 libraries 0.0
Access to jobs by
transit 12304.7 jobs 0.0
Access to jobs by
auto 20084.7 jobs 5314.7
Diversity of
destinations
0.93 (Index
from 0 to 1)
0.85 (Index
from 0 to 1) 0.42
Activity density
13015.0 jobs
and people
per sq. mi.
11059.5 jobs
and people
per sq. mi.
198.4
Crime rate
251.0 crimes
per 10,000
people
257.3 crimes
per 10,000
people
197.4
Vacancy rate 4.4% of units
are vacant
4.0% of units
are vacant 12.5%
Indicators: Policies Is there a policy here?
State and local TOD programs
State and local TOD programs
State and local programs that support transit-oriented
development
No Policy
State and local plans to create age-friendly communities Communities that have taken comprehensive steps to prepare for the aging of the U.S. population
State Policy
0 10064
Key: Getting
Better
No
Change
Getting
Worse
Imputed
Data
Performance: T op Third of
Communities
Middle
Third
Bottom
Third
Transportation
Safety and Convenience
Indicators: Metrics2015
Value Change2023 Value
& MeasureT ertile
2023
Median US
City
Frequency of local
transit service
2.3 buses and
trains per
hour
0.0 ADA-accessible
stations and vehicles
18.8% of
stations and
vehicles are
accessible
82.2% of
stations and
vehicles are
accessible
82.2%
Walkability
13.89 trips
per
household
per day
6.17 Congestion
29.1 hours
per person
per year
0.0 Household
transportation costs
$14,718 per
year $16,848
Speed limits 28.8 miles
per hour 29.3
Crash rate
4.6 fatal
crashes per
100,000
people per
year
11.0 Indicators: Policies Is there a policy here?
State and local Complete Streets policies
State and local Complete Streets policies State Policy
State human services transportation coordination
State human services transportation coordination councilsState Policy State volunteer driver policies
State policies that remove barriers to volunteer driver programsState Policy State and local plans to create age-friendly communities Communities that have taken comprehensive steps to prepare for the aging of the U.S. population
State Policy
0 10050
Key: Getting
Better
No
Change
Getting
Worse
Imputed
Data
Performance: T op Third of
Communities
Middle
Third
Bottom
Third
Environment
Clean Air and Water
Indicators: Metrics2015
Value Change2023 Value
& MeasureT ertile
2023
Median US
City
Drinking water
quality
3.70% of
people are
exposed to
violations
0.01% of
people are
exposed to
violations
0.00%
Regional air quality
2.7 unhealthy air
quality days
per year
5.0 unhealthy air
quality days
per year
3.9 Near-roadway
pollution
18.08% of
people are
exposed
0.00%
Local industrial
pollution
0.00002
RSEI Score
from 0 to
13,248
0.00 Indicators: Policies Is there a policy here?
State utility disconnection policies
State date-based policies prohibiting disconnection of utility service
No Policy
Local multi-hazard mitigation plans
FEMA-approved local multi-hazard mitigation plans City Policy, County Policy State energy efficiency scorecard
State energy efficiency scorecard
State policies that support energy-efficient buildings, facilities, and appliances
State Policy
State and local plans to create age-friendly communities Communities that have taken comprehensive steps to prepare for the aging of the U.S. population
State Policy
0 10062
Key: Getting
Better
No
Change
Getting
Worse
Imputed
Data
Performance: T op Third of
Communities
Middle
Third
Bottom
Third
Health
Prevention, Access and
Quality
Indicators: Metrics2015
Value Change2023 Value
& MeasureT ertile
2023
Median US
City
Smoking prevalence
14.7% of
adults smoke
regularly
18.8%
Obesity prevalence
19.3% of
adults are
obese
32.6% of
adults are
obese
35.2%
Access to exercise
opportunities
93.4% of
people have
access
64.8%
Healthcare
professional shortage
areas
0.0 (Index
from 0 to 25)
11.2 (Index
from 0 to 25) 12.0
Preventable
hospitalization rate
18.5 preventable
hospitalizations
per 1,000
patients
38.2 Patient satisfaction
74.0% of
patients are
satisfied
69.0% of
patients are
satisfied
69.0%
Indicators: Policies Is there a policy here?
State and local smoke-free laws
State Policy
State and local laws that prohibit smoking in workplaces, restaurants, and bars
State Policy
State and local plans to create age-friendly communities Communities that have taken comprehensive steps to prepare for the aging of the U.S. population
State Policy
0 10043
Key: Getting
Better
No
Change
Getting
Worse
Imputed
Data
Performance: T op Third of
Communities
Middle
Third
Bottom
Third
Engagement
Civic and Social Involvement
Indicators: Metrics2015
Value Change2023 Value
& MeasureT ertile
2023
Median US
City
Broadband cost and
speed
45.3% of
residents
have high-
speed,
competitively-
priced service
73.8%
Opportunity for civic
involvement
6.1 organizations
per 10,000
people
7.2 organizations
per 10,000
people
8.0 Voting rate 57.1% of
people voted 63.6%
Social involvement
index
1.26 (Index
from 0 to 2.5) 1.02
Cultural, arts, and
entertainment
institutions
1.1 institutions
per 10,000
people
1.9 Indicators: Policies Is there a policy here?
State barriers to community broadband
Absence of state policies that prevent or discourage communities from operating public broadband networks
No Policy
Early, absentee, or mail-in state voting laws
Early, absentee, or mail-in state voting laws
State laws allowing early, no-excuse absentee, or mail-in voting;State Policy Local human rights commissions
Local human rights commissions No Policy
Municipal LGBTQ+ anti-discrimination laws
T otal score of 75 or greater from the Human Rights Campaign Municipal Equality Index
No Policy
State and local plans to create age-friendly communities Communities that have taken comprehensive steps to prepare for the aging of the U.S. population
State Policy
0 10047
Key: Getting
Better
No
Change
Getting
Worse
Imputed
Data
Performance: T op Third of
Communities
Middle
Third
Bottom
Third
Opportunity
Inclusion and Possibilities
Indicators: Metrics2015
Value Change2023 Value
& MeasureT ertile
2023
Median US
City
Income inequality 0.48 (Index
from 0 to 1)
0.48 (Index
from 0 to 1) 0.45
Jobs per worker 0.66 jobs per
worker
0.70 jobs per
worker 0.70
High school
graduation rate
85.9% of
students
graduate
92.0% of
students
graduate
89.7%
Age diversity 0.82 (Index
from 0 to 1)
0.80 (Index
from 0 to 1) 0.84
Indicators: Policies Is there a policy here?
Local government creditworthiness
Local government AAA general obligation bond rating No Policy State and local minimum wage increase
State and local minimum wage is higher than the federal minimum wage and is adjusted for increases in the cost of living State Policy
State expansion of the Family and Medical Leave Act
State policies that expand upon the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to provide additional leave benefits to workers State Policy
State and local plans to create age-friendly communities Communities that have taken comprehensive steps to prepare forState Policy the aging of the U.S. population
Characteristics of Santa Maria, California
Demographics
T otal Population:
105,528
Climate
2022 T emperatureJanuaryJuly
Lowest 41° 57°
Average 52° 70°
Highest 64° 83°
2022 Avg. PrecipitationJanuaryJuly
0" 0"
Black/African American: 1%
Asian American: 4%
Hispanic/Latino: 77%
White: 71%
American Indian/Alaska Native: 1%
Age 50+: 24%
Age 65+: 10%
% of the population with a disability: 10%
Life Expectancy: 80 years old
Households Without a Vehicle: 5%
Median Household Income: $68,711
% of the population with income below poverty: 13%
Upward Mobility: 81
Characteristics Sources
Use the Map to Explore Santa Maria, California in Detail T ake a deeper dive into a neighborhood with our interactive map that includes layers of category scores, metrics and demographic information. See how livability varies from one neighborhood to the next.
T otal Score
No Data 0 - 15 15 - 30 30 - 45 45 - 60 60+
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