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Living in
Santa Monica.
About
Life in Santa Monica
Living in Santa Monica means accepting that you're paying premium prices for a genuinely pleasant lifestyle, but it's not the vacation postcard most people imagine. The median home price hovers around $1.8 million and rent averages $2,402 a month, which reflects the city's desirability but also creates real financial pressure—this is a place where 72.9% of residents rent rather than own. The job market here is surprisingly robust; major tech and entertainment companies like Hulu, Snap, Activision Blizzard, and Universal Music Group have headquarters in the city, so there are actual career opportunities beyond hospitality, though you'll find the overall unemployment rate sits at 5.8%.
Santa Monica at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
11.2%
Foreign-Born
23.3%
Broadband Internet
94.1%
of households
Population Growth
-3.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics23.3% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Santa Monica: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Santa Monica, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (11.4%), and 10.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
13.8%
of residents
65 and Older
19.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
14.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
48.4%
of households
Married Couples
29.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
1.88
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 18% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Santa Monica
In Santa Monica, rent runs 18% above the CA average, and home values are 139% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
42.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
27.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1968
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,657,936 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CA
Unemployment in Santa Monica and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Santa Monica is close to the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Santa Monica Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area
Commute24.8 min avg
How Santa Monica residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Santa Monica, most residents drive alone to work (47%), and 62% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 mi
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Major hub36.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 88% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Santa Monica runs 88% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
617.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
4,111.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Santa Monica Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 21 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
100.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Los Angeles County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Los Angeles County, which includes Santa Monica, the most common type is high wind, with 21 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21 | High Wind | $3,000 |
| 2024 | 27 | High Wind | $5,000 |
| 2023 | 21 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 7 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 5 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 4 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 2 | Wildfire | None reported |
| 2018 | 3 | Debris Flow | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
142 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Los Angeles County, county-wide
Santa Monica is less than 1% of Los Angeles County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality74 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Los Angeles County, which includes Santa Monica, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
74
Good Days
39
per year
Moderate Days
228
per year
Unhealthy Days
32
per year
Los Angeles County, county-wide
Santa Monica is less than 1% of Los Angeles County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate68°F summers, 50°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Santa Monica has cool summers (avg high 68°F) and warm winters (avg low 50°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
63°/54°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
68°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/58°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
63°/50°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
12.2"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
1
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
34
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62°F | 50°F | 3.08" |
| Feb | 62°F | 50°F | 3.10" |
| Mar | 62°F | 52°F | 1.74" |
| Apr | 63°F | 53°F | 0.57" |
| May | 63°F | 56°F | 0.23" |
| Jun | 66°F | 59°F | 0.05" |
| Jul | 69°F | 62°F | 0.03" |
| Aug | 70°F | 62°F | 0.01" |
| Sep | 70°F | 61°F | 0.03" |
| Oct | 68°F | 59°F | 0.49" |
| Nov | 67°F | 54°F | 0.81" |
| Dec | 63°F | 50°F | 2.03" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Santa Monica
Santa Monica has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
3.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.5 / 5
Santa Monica - Ucla Med Ctr & Orthopaedic Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Saint John's Health Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Cedar-sinai Marina Del Rey Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4 mi away · Marina Del Rey
VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 4.4 mi away · Los Angeles
Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at Ucla
Psychiatric · ER available · 5 mi away · Los Angeles
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education19.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Santa Monica
Santa Monica's student/teacher ratio is 19.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 70.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
13
within city limits
Private Schools
11
within city limits
College Degree Rate
70.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Santa Monica
Public · 2-year · 21,440 students · in-state tuition $1,158 · 28% graduate · median earnings $46,589 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
University of California-Los Angeles
5.5 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 33,475 students · in-state tuition $15,729 · 94% graduate · median earnings $88,581 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Southern California
12.5 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 20,443 students · in-state tuition $75,162 · 93% graduate · median earnings $103,420 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 13,436 students · in-state tuition $1,238 · 28% graduate · median earnings $47,028 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 11,198 students · in-state tuition $1,238 · 20% graduate · median earnings $42,194 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,094 students · in-state tuition $65,857 · 82% graduate · median earnings $86,034 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 5,472 students · 43% graduate · median earnings $37,849 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, 17 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Santa Monica
Santa Monica has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (17 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
17 mi awayJuan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
74 mi awayChannel Islands National Park
National Park
81 mi awayCésar E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
84 mi awayPublic Libraries in Santa Monica
Santa Monica Public Library
601 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica
Fairview Branch Library
2101 Ocean Park Blvd., Santa Monica
Montana Avenue Branch Library
1704 Montana Ave., Santa Monica
Ocean Park Branch Library
2601 Main St., Santa Monica
Pico Branch Library
2201 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica
Cities Near Santa Monica
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Santa Monica?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Santa Monica FAQ
Is Santa Monica, California affordable?⌄
Santa Monica's median rent is $2,402/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $114,885/year. Median home value is $1,755,500.
Is Santa Monica, California safe?⌄
Santa Monica's violent crime rate was 618 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 4111 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Santa Monica, California?⌄
Santa Monica has an unemployment rate of 5.7%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Santa Monica, California?⌄
The cost of living in Santa Monica is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,402/month and median household income is $114,885/year. The median home value is $1,755,500. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Santa Monica, California?⌄
The average commute in Santa Monica is 25 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from