Moving from Santa Maria, CA to Waco, TX?
An out-of-state move adds a new driver's license, plates, voter registration and state-specific deadlines. The Moving Checklist Planner dates every task from your move-in day — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.
Is Santa Maria or Waco Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Santa Maria is safer than Waco (Safety Score 28/100 vs 28/100), with a total crime rate of 2,543 per 100,000 versus 2,552 for Waco — 0% lower. Santa Maria has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Waco has a 67% lower rate.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Santa Maria, CA?
Santa Maria — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Waco — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Santa Maria, CA
Waco, TX
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Santa Maria | Waco | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,543.3 | 2,552.1 | -8.9 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 660.6 | 425.9 | +234.7 |
| Murder Rate | 2.7 | 5.5 | -2.7 |
| Rape Rate | 68.2 | 90.9 | -22.8 |
| Robbery Rate | 173.6 | 57.4 | +116.1 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 416.2 | 272.1 | +144.1 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,882.7 | 2,126.2 | -243.5 |
| Burglary Rate | 312.6 | 294.7 | +17.9 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,149.4 | 1,626.4 | -477.0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 420.7 | 205.1 | +215.6 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from Santa Maria, CA to Waco, TX?
An out-of-state move adds new driver's license, plates, voter registration and deadlines that differ by state. The Moving Checklist Planner dates every task from your move-in day — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santa Maria or Waco safer?
Santa Maria is safer with a total crime rate of 2,543 per 100K vs 2,552 for Waco — a 0% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Santa Maria has a violent crime rate of 660.6 per 100K while Waco has 425.9. Waco has lower violent crime.
About Santa Maria, CA
Santa Maria, California, a city in northern Santa Barbara County, is known for its barbecue and wine industry. It is the most populous city in the county, with a diverse, predominantly Hispanic population. With a safety score of 28/100 and a population coverage of 110,056, Santa Maria has a total crime rate of 2,543.3 per 100,000 residents.
About Waco, TX
Waco, Texas, bisected by the Brazos River, is a Central Texas city with a diverse population of around 140,000. Home to Baylor University, it blends academic life with a rich history, including its past as a major cotton producer. With a safety score of 28/100 and a population coverage of 146,270, Waco has a total crime rate of 2,552.1 per 100,000 residents.