How long is the commute from Santa Maria, CA?
Workers who live in Santa Maria, CA take an average of 22.4 minutes to get to work (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
71.3% of workers drive alone to work.
1.8% take public transportation.
1.4% of workers walk to work.
4.7% work from home.
6.3% of households have no vehicle.
Figures last updated on .
- Average commute
- 22.4 minutes (±0.9)
- Public transportation
- 1.8%
- Work from home
- 4.7%
- Households without a car
- 6.3%
How people in Santa Maria get to work
| Means of transportation | Santa Maria | Santa Barbara County | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drove alone | 71.3% (±2.1 points) | 64.7% | 65.7% | 68.8% |
| Carpooled | 18.8% (±1.8 points) | 11.7% | 9.5% | 8.5% |
| Public transportation | 1.8% (±0.6 points) | 2.2% | 2.9% | 3.2% |
| Walked | 1.4% (±0.4 points) | 3.9% | 2.4% | 2.4% |
| Other means (bicycle, taxi, motorcycle) | 2.0% (±0.5 points) | 4.1% | 2.4% | 2.0% |
| Worked from home | 4.7% (±1.0 points) | 13.4% | 17.2% | 15.1% |
In Santa Maria, the average commute is higher than in Santa Barbara County (20.8 minutes).
It is also lower than in California (28.7 minutes).
It is lower than the national figure (26.4 minutes).
In Santa Maria, the share commuting by public transportation is not measurably different from Santa Barbara County (2.2%).
It is also lower than in California (2.9%).
It is lower than the national figure (3.2%).
In Santa Barbara County, Santa Maria ranks 9 of 22 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest average commute.
Statewide, it ranks 865 of 1,076.
Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.
Cars per household in Santa Maria
| Vehicles available | Santa Maria | Santa Barbara County | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No vehicle | 6.3% (±1.1 points) | 5.9% | 7.1% | 8.4% |
| 1 vehicle | 25.5% (±1.8 points) | 30.7% | 30.7% | 33.1% |
| 2 vehicles | 33.0% (±1.8 points) | 36.3% | 36.3% | 36.6% |
| 3 or more vehicles | 35.2% (±1.9 points) | 27.0% | 25.8% | 21.9% |
In Santa Maria, the share of households without a vehicle is not measurably different from Santa Barbara County (5.9%).
It is not measurably different from California (7.1%).
It is lower than the national figure (8.4%).
Working from home and internet access in Santa Maria
| Santa Maria | Santa Barbara County | California | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workers working from home | 4.7% (±1.0 points) | 13.4% (±0.7 points) | 17.2% (±0.1 points) | 15.1% |
| Households with a computer | 94.3% (±1.1 points) | 96.4% (±0.3 points) | 96.9% (±0.1 points) | 95.5% |
| Households with broadband internet | 89.8% (±1.4 points) | 92.5% (±0.5 points) | 93.5% (±0.1 points) | 91.0% |
In Santa Maria, the share of households with a broadband subscription is lower than in Santa Barbara County (92.5%).
It is also lower than in California (93.5%).
It is not measurably different from the national figure (91.0%).
Average commute in places near Santa Maria
| Place | Distance | Average commute | Compared with this place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria | — | 22.4 minutes (±0.9) | — |
| Orcutt | 4.6 mi | 22.1 minutes (±1.8) | Not measurably different |
| Nipomo | 7.4 mi | 28.0 minutes (±4.3) | Higher |
| Guadalupe | 7.7 mi | 26.5 minutes (±4.2) | Not measurably different |
| Woodlands | 9.0 mi | 23.0 minutes (±5.4) | Not measurably different |
| Callender | 11 mi | 20.5 minutes (±2.1) | Not measurably different |
| Vandenberg AFB | 15 mi | 11.2 minutes (±4.4) | Lower |
| Oceano | 15 mi | 20.8 minutes (±3.3) | Not measurably different |
| Vandenberg Village | 15 mi | 22.2 minutes (±3.6) | Not measurably different |
Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Vandenberg AFB, CA (11.2 minutes).
Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Nipomo, CA (28.0 minutes).
Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.
Average commute across Santa Barbara County, place by place
| Rank | Place | Average commute |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Lompoc | 27.6 minutes (±1.3) |
| 4 | Mission Hills | 27.5 minutes (±3.7) |
| 5 | Santa Ynez | 26.9 minutes (±5.2) |
| 6 (tie) | Guadalupe | 26.5 minutes (±4.2) |
| 6 (tie) | Toro Canyon | 26.5 minutes (±12.1) |
| 8 | Carpinteria | 24.9 minutes (±2.4) |
| 9 | Santa Maria | 22.4 minutes (±0.9) |
| 10 | Vandenberg Village | 22.2 minutes (±3.6) |
| 11 | Orcutt | 22.1 minutes (±1.8) |
| 12 | Summerland | 21.4 minutes (±7.9) |
| 13 | Los Olivos | 19.6 minutes (±7.9) |
| 14 | Los Alamos | 18.6 minutes (±2.6) |
| 15 | Montecito | 18.4 minutes (±2.8) |
Showing 13 of 22 places in Santa Barbara County, ranked from highest to lowest.
Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).
Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.
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Questions about Santa Maria
How long is the average commute in Santa Maria?
Workers who live in Santa Maria, CA take an average of 22.4 minutes each way (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Can you live in Santa Maria without a car?
6.3% of households in Santa Maria have no vehicle, and 1.8% of workers commute by public transportation.
How many people work from home in Santa Maria?
4.7% (±1.0 points) of workers who live in Santa Maria worked from home, and 89.8% of households have a broadband subscription.
Sources
- Selected Economic Characteristics (DP03), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Santa Maria city, California
- Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Santa Maria city, California
- Selected Social Characteristics (DP02), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Santa Maria city, California
To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Santa Maria city, California (place:69196, in state:06).
Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).
The API needs a free key.
DP03_0018E, DP03_0018M, DP03_0025E, DP03_0025M, DP03_0019PE, DP03_0019PM, DP03_0020PE, DP03_0020PM, DP03_0021PE, DP03_0021PM, DP03_0022PE, DP03_0022PM, DP03_0023PE, DP03_0023PM, DP03_0024PE, DP03_0024PM, DP04_0058PE, DP04_0058PM, DP04_0059PE, DP04_0059PM, DP04_0060PE, DP04_0060PM, DP04_0061PE, DP04_0061PM, DP02_0153PE, DP02_0153PM, DP02_0154PE, DP02_0154PM
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.
Figures last updated on .
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