The Santa Maria metro is home to 443,975 people (up 0.1% over five years), with a median household income of $95,977. Typical rent of $3,279/month works out to 41.0% of the median household income — above the 30% affordability threshold, a strain signal (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Santa Maria's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 23.0% |
| Professional & management | 13.0% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 11.2% |
| Retail trade | 9.6% |
| Agriculture & mining | 8.1% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 41.0% of median income leave little headroom — expect tenant price sensitivity. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Santa Maria market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $3,279/month suggests a household income around $131,000/year. The metro's median household income is $95,977.
By workforce share: Education & health care (23.0%), Professional & management (13.0%), Arts, food & hospitality (11.2%) (Census ACS 5-year).