Sunny agricultural town in the heart of the Santa Maria Valley
Near the Pacific Ocean and San Rafael Mountains, the small city of Santa Maria is known for its namesake wine valley and barbecue style, as well as its sunny yet mild weather. “The weather is a huge draw,” says Charlotte Pettit, Santa Maria local and real estate agent with Pettit Group at Modern Broker. “We don’t typically get very hot here, so barely any homes have air conditioning.” Agriculture is the largest industry, and major exports include strawberries, lettuce and wine grapes; many other residents work in public schools, municipal government, construction and small-scale manufacturing. Several aerospace stations, including Vandenberg Space Force Base, are set along the coastline just south of Santa Maria.
According to census data, about half of the city speaks Spanish; in support of this segment of the population, the city government publishes important public information in both English and Spanish, and many schools have bilingual immersion programs. Local nonprofits like Corazon del Pueblo Cultural and Creative Arts Center of the Santa Maria Valley celebrate local voices and cultures.
There are many wineries around Santa Maria.
Santa Maria is located within agriculture country.
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Home values on the rise, with newer properties on the south side
Nearly half of Santa Maria’s residents are homeowners, and homes here sell for a median price of $645,000, higher than the national median of $416,700. Relatively affordable housing compared to larger cities like Santa Barbara and Los Angeles has led to steady growth here, and median home prices rose 9% between 2023 and 2024. Some investors have begun renovating older homes for rental or resale income, while homeowners with larger lots may build Accessory Dwelling Units to rent out or house relatives.
The city’s oldest homes date back to the 1920s and are clustered around the downtown area, where home prices are at their lowest. Newer 21st-century homes are concentrated on the south side, close to the Santa Barbara Country Club; these newer homes tend to have Spanish-style details, large lots and higher property values. Condos and townhouses are more commonly found on the east side, and mobile home parks, including 55+ communities, are set around the city’s edges.
City officials are currently prioritizing residential and mixed-use developments, both to accommodate a growing population and increase walkability. To prepare for a projected population increase of about 40,000 by 2045, the City Council is considering annexing land southeast of the city to build more housing and schools, though they haven’t yet taken official action.
Downtown Santa Maria is a great place to call home.
Find your dream home in Downtown Santa Maria.
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Agriculture programs for local kids
For elementary and middle school, students attend schools within the Santa Maria-Bonita School District, which earns an overall C-minus from Niche. The Francisco and Roberto Jimenez Elementary School offers a dual-immersion Spanish/English program that teaches academic subjects in both languages. “A lot of the kids do 4-H, too” says Pettit, referring to the national agriculture program for kids aged 8-18. “There's always a fair that comes through, and the kids get to show their animals, cows or pigs, and sell them.”
High schools belong to the Santa Maria Joint Union District, which scores a B from Niche. The Mark Richardson Career Technical Education Center and Agricultural Farm opened in 2022 and offers students hands-on training in crops and livestock farming, high-tech farming, construction, and culinary arts. Some classes, such as machine shop and culinary arts, will earn college credit; others can lead to industry certifications. These programs are available for any high school students within the district.
Santa Maria High School is centrally located to the city..
El Camino Junior High School has a large campus.
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Mild weather with heavy fog in the colder months
Thanks to its location near the coast, Santa Maria enjoys a mild climate year-round, with sunny skies and temperatures in the 50s, 60s and 70s. Summers tend to be extremely dry, and most of the year's rainfall happens in the late winter, with a couple of inches each month. Santa Maria doesn’t fall within any Fire Hazard Severity Zones designated by the California State Fire Marshal, as the Santa Maria River typically protects residential areas from wildfires. There are moderate and high severity zones on the other side of the river, to the northeast, but Santa Maria City Fire Department manages any small fires that may start in and around the city. During the May-to-October wildfire season, local air quality can be affected by smoke in surrounding regions. From late fall until early spring, “tule” (rhymes with newly) fog hangs over the valley and can sometimes cause visibility issues.
That Santa Ynez Mountians boarder Santa Maria to the North.
Santa Maria is very close to many breathtaking views.
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Birdwatching at local parks
Several of Santa Maria’s 28 parks are popular with birdwatchers, as the city is home to more than 140 species, including goldfinches and blackbirds. The southside Waller Park offers open green space and hiking trails, as well as wooded areas and a pond. Preisker Park, on the north side, features playgrounds shaded by tall eucalyptus trees.
Santa Maria is less than 20 miles from Pismo Beach, known for its broad shore and sand dunes. Los Padres National Forest, a few miles east, extends over several mountain ranges, including the Santa Ynez and Santa Lucia Mountains, with thousands of miles of trails.
You can go feed ducks at Waller Park in Santa Maria.
Oceano Dunes Natural Preserve is a great place to explore in Oceano.
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Declining crime rates
According to FBI data from December 2023, the Santa Maria Police Department reported a violent crime rate of 131 incidents per 100,000 residents, higher than the statewide rate of 99 and the national rate of 121. However, property crime was reported at a rate of 191 incidents per 100,000 residents, slightly lower than the statewide rate of 196 and slightly higher than the national rate of 180. Reported crimes are mainly concentrated around the downtown corridor. According to local police, crime rates have declined in the last few years, with motor vehicle thefts dropping by 35% from 2022 to 2023. In the first four months of 2024, overall crime decreased by 46% compared to the same period in 2022.
Commuting to Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo
Residents need a car to get around easily, but they don’t usually have to drive far within this small city. Broadway, also known as Highway 135, is the main throughway, and U.S. Route 101 runs north-south through the city’s east side, leading 65 miles to Santa Barbara and 171 miles to Los Angeles. San Luis Obispo is about 32 miles north. Santa Maria Area Transit has 13 local bus routes and two regional routes that reach neighboring towns like Orcutt, Lompoc and Santa Ynez. The town of Guadalupe, 8 miles west, has an Amtrak Train Station that supports regional travel along the Pacific Surfliner route, with stops along the central and southern coastline. Some major roadways, especially on the city’s south side, are lined with bike lanes.
On the neighborhood’s south side, Santa Maria Public Airport has direct flights to Las Vegas on Allegiant Air. For broader flight service, Santa Barbara Airport is 64 miles away and has 12 regional destinations, while Los Angeles International Airport is 163 miles away and offers nonstop direct flights to 181 destinations. Dignity Health Marian Regional Medical Center is the city’s only hospital on the east side of U.S. 101. With just under 200 beds, the center offers back and spine services and houses a level III trauma center, a level II neonatal intensive care unit and a cardiac care center.
Visiting museums downtown and dining on Santa Maria-style barbecue
Strip malls along Broadway and U.S. 101 offer mostly national retailers and big-box stores. Downtown, the larger Santa Maria Town Center mall is anchored by a Macy’s and the Regal Edwards Santa Maria & RPX Movie Theater. Main Street, also downtown, is lined with local businesses that include bridal and furniture stores, while Highway 135 has small neighborhood bars, municipal offices and museums. The Santa Maria Valley Historical Society Museum focuses on local history, while the Natural History Museum has exhibits about the broader natural world, and the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum has interactive exhibits geared toward local kids. On the city’s east side, the Pacific Conservatory Theatre has been staging professional musicals and plays since 1964.
Santa Maria’s food scene features lots of Mexican restaurants and steakhouses, though Santa Maria-style barbecue is the star of the show. The regional specialty refers to beef tri-tip slow-cooked over “red oak” coals, which are made from native coast live oak trees. In addition to restaurants, plenty of scenic wineries can be found southeast of Santa Maria; common varieties here include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah.
Every Friday from March until September, locals gather at the Town Center West parking lot for live music, a farmer’s market and local food vendors. In late April, they kick off the strawberry season at the Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival with live entertainment, a petting zoo, and one-of-a-kind strawberry-made treats, including pizza, nachos and kettle corn. The Santa Maria Elks Rodeo, spanning three to four days in June, culminates in a parade on Broadway.
The Santa Maria Valley Historical Society is a great place to learn about the city.
Locals of Santa Maria head to Rancho Nipomo for quality BBQ.
On average, homes in Santa Maria, CA sell after 31 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Santa Maria, CA over the last 12 months is $650,000, up 4% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$649,900
Median Sale Price
$650,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$665,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$659,900
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$425,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
1,356
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
$4
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$393
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes for Sale
94
Months of Supply
0.80
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Top Schools in Santa Maria, CA
Source:
Best Public Elementary Schools
#1 Joe Nightingale Elementary School
B+
Niche
8
GreatSchools
#2 Pine Grove Elementary School
B+
Niche
8
GreatSchools
#3 Patterson Road Elementary School
B+
Niche
6
GreatSchools
#4 Benjamin Foxen Elementary School
B+
Niche
5
GreatSchools
#5 Alice Shaw Elementary School
B-
Niche
5
GreatSchools
#6 Ralph Dunlap Elementary School
B
Niche
4
GreatSchools
#7 Don Juan Bautista Arellanes Elementary School
C-
Niche
6
GreatSchools
#8 Jimenez Roberto & Dr. Francisco Elementary School
C
Niche
5
GreatSchools
#9 Juan Pacifico Ontiveros Elementary School
C
Niche
5
GreatSchools
Best Public Middle Schools
#1 Benjamin Foxen Elementary School
B+
Niche
5
GreatSchools
#2 Lakeview Junior High School
B+
Niche
5
GreatSchools
#3 Orcutt Junior High School
B+
Niche
5
GreatSchools
#4 Mesa Middle School
B
Niche
4
GreatSchools
#5 Jimenez Roberto & Dr. Francisco Elementary School
Kathy Scruton: The Adventurous Realtor Making Every Deal an Exciting Journey!
Kathy Scruton has always been an adventurer at heart, and she brings that same spirit to real estate! For her, no two deals are ever alike, and that’s what keeps her mind sharp and her passion thriving. With over 25 years of expertise, Kathy knows that buying or selling a home is a big adventure—whether you're moving up, downsizing, investing, or buying your first home—and she’s here to make it fun, smooth, and successful.
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When she’s not closing deals, Kathy is actively involved in her community and a proud member of multiple associations, including the National Association of REALTORS® and the California Association of REALTORS®. She’s also part of the Estero Bay Newcomers (EBNC), helping people feel at home in the beautiful Central Coast area.
Ready to embark on your next real estate adventure? Reach out to Kathy today and let’s get started on your journey together!
Call, text, or email today: kathy@kathyforhomes.com 805-602-2532
Experience:
25+ years as a Central Coast REALTOR® Top 4% Prudential Network Prudential President's Club Top Producer, Century 21 Hometown Realty Community Involvement:
Estero Bay Newcomers (EBNC) Credentials and Memberships:
National Association of REALTORS® California Association of REALTORS® Scenic Coast Association of REALTORS® e-PRO (eCertified) Five Star BPO Certified Five Star REO Certified Five Star Short Sale Certified SFR (Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource)
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
