Population 3,026 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Santa Maria
Household size in Santa Maria
| Period | Santa Maria | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.03 | 3.07 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.41 | 2.93 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.45 | 2.79 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.70 | 2.54 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.32 | −0.53 | −0.03 |
At 2.70 people per household, Santa Maria sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in Puerto Rico as a whole, where it has 2.54 people. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 3.03, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Santa Maria
| Period | Santa Maria | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.5 | 36.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.8 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.4 | 42.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.8 | 45.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +7.4 | +8.3 | +2.3 |
Santa Maria skews older than the country: its median age is 43.8, against 40.1 nationally. Puerto Rico as a whole looks much the same.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Santa Maria
| Period | Santa Maria | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.5% | 18.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.0% | 18.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.9% | 16.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 23.3% | 15.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +4.8 pts | −2.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Santa Maria: 23.3% of all households, against 11.6% nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Santa Maria
Renters in Santa Maria
| Period | Santa Maria | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.7% | 27.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.5% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.3% | 31.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 28.2% | 32.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +7.4 pts | +4.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Santa Maria own their homes; 28.2% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. About three-quarters of owners (75.5%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Santa Maria
| Period | Santa Maria | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.6% | 15.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 45.6% | 18.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 56.8% | 22.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 44.6% | 19.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +17.0 pts | +3.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 44.6% of the housing in Santa Maria, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Santa Maria
| Period | Santa Maria | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1981 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1983 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1982 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1989 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +3 | +6 |
Santa Maria has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1989, versus 1980 nationally.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Santa Maria
| Period | Santa Maria | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $406 | $489 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $578 | $528 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $688 | $553 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $448 | $658 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$42 | +$168 | +$606 |
The median renter in Santa Maria pays $448 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 35.6% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Santa Maria
Bachelor's degrees in Santa Maria
| Period | Santa Maria | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.3% | 21.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.9% | 24.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.5% | 26.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.0% | 30.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Santa Maria have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 16.0%, against 35.6% nationally.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Santa Maria
| Period | Santa Maria | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 63.2% | 67.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 67.3% | 72.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 73.9% | 76.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 73.1% | 81.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +9.9 pts | +13.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
More than a quarter of adults in Santa Maria never finished high school, well above the national share: only 73.1% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Santa Maria
| Period | Santa Maria | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.9% | 16.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 19.6% | 18.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.7% | 16.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.8% | 10.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −12.1 pts | −6.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Santa Maria has been low: just 1.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Santa Maria compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria | 2.70 | 43.8 | 23.3% | 28.2% | 44.6% | 1989 | $448 | 16.0% | 73.1% | 1.8% |
| Vieques | 2.63 | 49.0 | 16.3% | 37.0% | 34.0% | 1987 | $420 | 9.1% | 70.0% | 9.3% |
| Esperanza | 2.61 | 55.2 | 18.4% | 29.0% | 52.6% | 1981 | $429 | 6.3% | 78.1% | 1.7% |
| Roosevelt Roads Naval Station | 2.50 | 48.0 | 17.5% | 6.4% | 58.8% | 1995 | $447 | 48.0% | 83.0% | 1.1% |
| Ceiba | 2.43 | 47.9 | 14.3% | 26.3% | 28.3% | 1985 | $561 | 23.3% | 80.9% | 9.2% |
| Rio Blanco | 2.61 | 39.2 | 20.3% | 29.7% | 26.6% | 1997 | $591 | 28.5% | 82.8% | 5.9% |
| Duque | 2.54 | 46.2 | 13.9% | 19.3% | 23.1% | 1980 | $520 | 11.1% | 72.4% | 9.9% |
| Naguabo | 2.96 | 36.5 | 17.7% | 24.8% | 23.5% | 1984 | $491 | 23.9% | 77.8% | 5.9% |
| Punta Santiago | 2.29 | 49.1 | 15.1% | 37.2% | 19.4% | 1977 | $541 | 24.2% | 83.9% | 7.7% |
| Humacao | 2.53 | 48.2 | 9.7% | 17.7% | 27.6% | 1989 | $706 | 33.0% | 82.8% | 3.8% |
| Las Piedras | 2.68 | 46.0 | 15.5% | 25.6% | 16.3% | 1989 | $647 | 29.7% | 83.3% | 7.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Yountville, CA · Pineville, KY · Princeton, LA · Remington, VA · Rosepine, LA · Spencerville, IN · Merton, WI · Amanda, OH · Thompson, CT · Verona, MS
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Santa Maria. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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