How many people live in the Santa Maria, CA area?
Updated Mar. 4, 2026Refreshed annually
In 2024 there were 444,500 people in the Santa Maria, CA area. That makes the Santa Maria, CA metropolitan statistical area the 122nd-most populous metro area in the US. It is home to 0.13% of the nation's population.
445K
population of Santa Maria, CA area (2024)
0.13%
Santa Maria, CA area share of US population (2024)
Between 2010 and 2024, the population of the Santa Maria, CA area increased from 424,300 to 444,500—a 4.8% increase. During that same period, the US population grew 9.9%.
About 444,500 people lived in the Santa Maria, CA area in 2024.
Population estimates of the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA Metro Area, 2010–2024
What are the age demographics of the Santa Maria, CA area?
About 17.4% of the Santa Maria, CA area's population in 2024 was aged 65 years or older, lower than the 18% share in the nation overall. Children (under 18) account for 22.2% of the Santa Maria, CA area population, above the 21.6% population share of children nationwide.
A lower share of the Santa Maria, CA area population is 65 and older than the US overall.
Population share by age group in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA Metro Area and the US overall (2024)
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of the Santa Maria, CA area?
Hispanic residents make up 49.3% of the Santa Maria, CA area population, higher than the national share of 20%.
Racial and ethnic make up differ based on location. These figures reflect how people identified their race alone (not in combination with other races), and separate out Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, following Census reporting standards.
A higher share of the Santa Maria, CA area population is Hispanic than the US overall.
Population share by race and ethnicity in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA Metro Area and the US overall (2024)
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
