FairRentWize

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land vs Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

Fair Market Rent Comparison — HUD 2025 Data

Quick Answer

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land is 62% cheaper for renters. A 2-bedroom rents for $1,074/mo vs $1,741/mo in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara — saving $8,004/year.

Rent by Unit Size

Unit SizeHouston-The Woodlands-Sugar LandSanta Maria-Santa BarbaraDifference
Studio$687$1,126$439
1 Bedroom$867$1,403$536
2 Bedrooms$1,074$1,741$667
3 Bedrooms$1,344$2,068$724
4 Bedrooms$1,471$2,592$1,121
Median Income$60,467$106,107$45,640

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land

Studio
$687/mo
1 BR
$867/mo
2 BR
$1,074/mo
3 BR
$1,344/mo
4 BR
$1,471/mo
Median Income
$60,467/yr
Full Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land profile →

Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

Studio
$1,126/mo
1 BR
$1,403/mo
2 BR
$1,741/mo
3 BR
$2,068/mo
4 BR
$2,592/mo
Median Income
$106,107/yr
Full Santa Maria-Santa Barbara profile →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land or Santa Maria-Santa Barbara cheaper to rent in?
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land is cheaper — a 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,074/mo vs $1,741/mo in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara. That's $667/mo or $8,004/year more expensive in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara (62% higher).
What is the 2-bedroom rent in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land vs Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land is $1,074/month. In Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, a 2-bedroom FMR is $1,741/month.
How do incomes compare between Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land and Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
The median household income in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land is $60,467/year. In Santa Maria-Santa Barbara it is $106,107/year. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara has the higher median income.
What is the studio rent in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land vs Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
A studio apartment Fair Market Rent in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land is $687/mo. In Santa Maria-Santa Barbara it is $1,126/mo.