Poverty and living standards in Santa Maria, California: official figures
17.3% of residents of Santa Maria (18,912 people) had incomes below the federal poverty line in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, 194th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 12.5%; California: 12.0%).
How many children live in poverty in Santa Maria?
24.2% of children under 18 in Santa Maria lived below the poverty line in 2020-2024 (8,066 children), 157th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 16.1%; California: 15.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate for older people in Santa Maria?
By age, the poverty rate in Santa Maria was 22.9% for children under 6 and 12.8% for residents aged 60 and over in 2020-2024 (US: 17.2% and 11.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Santa Maria live in deep poverty?
7,406 people in Santa Maria, 6.8% of residents, had incomes below half the poverty line in 2020-2024, 317th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Santa Maria are cost-burdened?
61.0% of renting households in Santa Maria spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2020-2024 (8,660 households), 98th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 51.1%; California: 55.3%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Santa Maria spend half their income on rent?
32.4% of renting households in Santa Maria spent half or more of their income on rent and utilities, 132nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 25.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Santa Maria are food insecure?
An estimated 31.1% of adults in Santa Maria experienced food insecurity in the past year, joint 35th highest of 592 US cities of 50,000 or more with an estimate, and 24.7% housing insecurity (CDC PLACES model-based estimate for 2023, age-adjusted).
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copyHow Santa Maria compares with other cities in the United States
Residents below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Santa Maria ranks 194 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 191 | Portsmouth | 17.3% |
| 192 | Chicopee | 17.3% |
| 193 | Longview | 17.3% |
| 194 | Santa Maria | 17.3% |
| 195 | Porterville | 17.3% |
| 196 | Berkeley | 17.3% |
| 197 | San Antonio | 17.1% |
Children under 18 below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Santa Maria ranks 157 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children under 18 below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 154 | Middletown | 24.3% |
| 155 | Longview | 24.2% |
| 156 | Tucson | 24.2% |
| 157 | Santa Maria | 24.2% |
| 158 | Chicopee | 24.2% |
| 159 | Springfield | 24.2% |
| 160 | Lawrence | 24.1% |
Residents with incomes below half the poverty line (2020-2024)
Santa Maria ranks 317 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents with incomes below half the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 314 | Salt Lake City | 6.8% |
| 315 | Sacramento | 6.8% |
| 316 | Phoenix | 6.8% |
| 317 | Santa Maria | 6.8% |
| 318 | Escondido | 6.8% |
| 319 | Redding | 6.8% |
| 320 | Fort Myers | 6.7% |
Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent (2020-2024)
Santa Maria ranks 98 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 95 | Pinellas Park | 61.1% |
| 96 | Auburn | 61.1% |
| 97 | Monterey Park | 61.0% |
| 98 | Santa Maria | 61.0% |
| 99 | Allentown | 60.9% |
| 100 | Mesquite | 60.9% |
| 101 | Bonita Springs | 60.9% |
Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) (2023)
Santa Maria ranks 35 of 592, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Birmingham | 32.0% |
| 33 | Watsonville | 31.5% |
| 34 | Elizabeth | 31.2% |
| 35 | Santa Maria | 31.1% |
| 36 | New Britain | 31.1% |
| 37 | Hempstead | 30.9% |
| 38 | East Orange | 30.7% |
More on Santa Maria: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: PLACES: Place Data (GIS Friendly Format), 2025 release: model-based age-adjusted prevalence among adults, for every place (data.cdc.gov API, columns used), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b2174bcc660f…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B17020: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Age (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 e79a292f34605560506b7f4b5c8ea242c9d6e203c8e95ba675565ddb7758571e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 41bab025d213…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C17002: Ratio of Income to Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 dc3dc675113683ec3ff2a0e29a840f43e03268151d7f14b922658d7306da5187), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 31aa364bfddf…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25070: Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 862ccc17d913305d11e6f802ce4518d76b30585ea0b05b251cd8cf21f8661386), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4f8d499d9e95…)
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