Santa Maria, CA vs Tuscaloosa, AL

Santa Maria, CA is safer with a higher safety score by several points. Santa Maria, CA has a safety score of 61/100 while Tuscaloosa, AL has 61/100, based on FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Santa Maria, CA has a violent crime rate of 660.6 per 100,000 residents, while Tuscaloosa, AL has 553.4 per 100,000. Lower rates indicate safer communities. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Santa Maria, CA has a property crime rate of 1882.7 per 100,000, compared to 2731.2 per 100,000 in Tuscaloosa, AL. Property crimes include burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft.

Safety scores range from 0-100, combining violent crime rates, property crime rates, and population data from the FBI UCR. Higher scores mean safer cities. Grades: A (80+), B (65-79), C (50-64), D (40-49), F (below 40).

Based on crime data alone, Santa Maria, CA is safer. However, safety is just one factor — also consider cost of living, job market, schools, and quality of life. Visit our city pages for more details on each.