Palmdale, CA vs Santa Barbara, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Palmdale
58
#1956 nationally
Santa Barbara
59.8
#1944 nationally
Santa Barbara leads in walk score (61 vs 24). Santa Barbara leads in average commute (17.6 min vs 41.3 min). Palmdale leads in cost of living index (130 vs 225).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Palmdale, CA | Santa Barbara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 58 (#1956) | 59.8 (#1944) |
| Population | 161,404 | 86,499 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $503,499 | $1,848,325 |
| Median Household Income | $78,414 | $98,346 |
| Average Commute | 41.3 min | 17.6 min |
| Walk Score | 24 | 61 |
| Crime Level | 15.1 | 17.8 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 130 | 225 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+32.9 | D+26.7 |
F
58 Score
Palmdale, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$503,499
Population
161,404
Crime
High
Walk Score
24
Pacific
View Palmdale, CA →
F
59.8 Score
Santa Barbara, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$1,848,325
Population
86,499
Crime
High
Walk Score
61
Pacific
View Santa Barbara, CA →
Try a different matchup
Swap Palmdale for: