Should I Move To
Santa Monica, California is home to about 92,168 people. On cost of living, it lands in the very expensive band — 37% above the national average. The median renter pays around $2,227 a month against a typical household income of $106,797. Our composite UrbRank Score lands at 38 out of 100 (grade F), putting it at #857 nationally.
UrbRank Score · General
Each dimension scored 0-100 against every other US city.
Based on overall cost of living vs. other US cities.
Inverse of violent + property crime rate per 100,000 residents.
Temperate summers & winters, moderate precipitation.
Walk Score — how feasible daily errands are on foot.
Unemployment rate plus household income vs. national median.
Air quality index (EPA AQS data).
Share of residents 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
Santa Monica's composite cost-of-living index lands at 137 (100 = US average), which puts it in the very expensive band. At $2,227/mo against $106,797 in median household income, the typical renter spends about 25% of income on housing — right inside the standard 30%-of-income guideline. Median home value sits around $1,654,800.
Full cost-of-living breakdown →Climate is mild — summer averages around 75°F, winter averages around 50°F. Precipitation totals about 12 inches a year. Walkability is exceptional — most residents can live without a car if they want to. Crime statistics are on the rougher end of the US distribution; the citywide aggregate hides safer pockets but the headline number isn't great. Air quality is moderate (AQI 54).
Verdict by lifestyle profile — same data, different priorities.
Santa Monica doesn't obviously fit families. It earns 39/100 (grade F) on the families profile. Strongest on education (95/100); weakest on affordability (6/100).
Santa Monica doesn't obviously fit retirees. It earns 33/100 (grade F) on the retirees profile. Strongest on education (95/100); weakest on affordability (6/100).
Santa Monica doesn't obviously fit remote workers. It earns 27/100 (grade F) on the remote workers profile. Strongest on education (95/100); weakest on affordability (6/100).
Santa Monica doesn't obviously fit young professionals. It earns 52/100 (grade C-) on the young professionals profile. Strongest on education (95/100); weakest on affordability (6/100).
Santa Monica, California pulls a 38/100 overall on the UrbRank Score (grade F), currently ranked #857 nationally. The composite weights seven lifestyle dimensions: affordability, safety, climate, walkability, jobs, environment, and education.
Santa Monica's cost-of-living index is 137 (with 100 as the US average), which lands in the very expensive band — 37% above the national average. Median rent runs about $2,227/mo.
Mild — summer averages around 75°F, winter averages around 50°F, with about 12 inches of precipitation a year.
Walk Score: 92/100. Walkability is exceptional — most residents can live without a car if they want to.
Santa Monica has about 92,168 residents, 68% of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher with a median age of 42.
Use UrbRank's comparison tool to put Santa Monica head-to-head against any other US city — housing, salaries, demographics, and quality-of-life metrics side by side. The leaderboard pages also show how Santa Monica stacks up for families, retirees, remote workers, and young professionals specifically.
Every US city is scored 0-100 on seven dimensions using public data from the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA Air Quality System, NOAA NCEI, and Walk Score. Each dimension is a percentile rank against every other city — so a score of 80 means the city is in the top 20% nationally on that dimension.
The overall score is a weighted average. Five lifestyle profiles — general, families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals — weight the dimensions differently to reflect what each cares about. Families get more weight on safety and schools; young professionals get more weight on jobs and walkability; retirees get more weight on climate.
Compare Santa Monica with other California cities scored on UrbRank.
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